Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed that Dani Sordo/Cándido Carrera and Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksen will complete the team’s line-up for the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship season.
The two crews will split events with Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm in the team’s third Hyundai i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid. Their mission will be to support the full season entrants of Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe and Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja in their charge for the drivers’ championship.
Sordo and Mikkelsen have been selected due to their vast experience and talents on specific surfaces in the WRC, with Hyundai Motorsport fielding the strongest line-up for each individual event. This will play to the individual strengths of the drivers: Sordo on rough gravel, Mikkelsen on tarmac, and Lappi on snow and fast gravel rallies.
2024 will be Sordo’s eleventh year with Hyundai Motorsport, having been with the Alzenau-based team since its inaugural WRC season in 2014. Alongside co-driver Carrera, the Spaniard will be looking to add to the 20 podiums he has claimed in Hyundai machinery over the past decade.
Mikkelsen is also a familiar face to Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, as he competed with the outfit for three seasons from 2017-2019. Since parting ways with the team, Mikkelsen has gone on to secure two FIA WRC2 drivers’ titles in 2021 and 2023. Alongside his driving role in WRC next season, the Norwegian will support the development of Hyundai Motorsport’s Rally2 car program.
Sordo and Mikkelsen both played a key role in Hyundai Motorsport’s first ever manufacturers’ title win in 2019. Specific targets for the two drivers, as well as the wider team, will be announced in January ahead of the season opener in Monte-Carlo.
Hyundai Motorsport is also working on its plans for WRC2 in 2024, using the series to develop future talents with the intention of leveraging these in 2025 and beyond.
Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “We are delighted to confirm the final elements of our experienced and talented 2024 WRC crew line-up. Dani has contributed a huge amount to the team over the past ten years, both on the stages and in the factory, so we are very happy that he will be continuing with us next season. It is also exciting to see Andreas return to our squad, as he brings with him proven success and plenty of experience that will benefit us in both WRC and Rally2. Thanks to their slightly different specialities and a huge amount of experience, the combination of Esapekka, Dani and Andreas will give us the opportunity to put the best team forward for every event to fight alongside Thierry and Ott.”
Dani Sordo said: “I am very happy to be staying with Hyundai Motorsport for another season to help the team achieve its objectives for 2024. The rallies we will compete in suit how I drive, which gives me confidence that we can score lots of points in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid. I have been part of the family in Alzenau for over ten years now and have enjoyed title-winning celebrations in 2019 and 2020, so I will do all I can to help the team get back to the top.”
Andreas Mikkelsen said: “I am very excited to come back to the top category of rallying with Hyundai Motorsport. Since 2019, we have fought hard to return to the top flight of the sport, and I am very glad we are doing it with Hyundai. We have a big opportunity in front of us, and we will grab it with both hands and make the most out of it. I want to thank Hyundai Motorsport for putting their faith in us; we will give our maximum to help achieve the high targets that will be set for the 2024 season.”
