Former F1 team boss Cyril Abiteboul has been announced as the Team Principal of the World Rally Championship team Hyundai Motorsport. The former Renault and Caterham F1 team boss joins the championship-winning rallying outfit to lead their "WRC and Customer Racing programmes". He takes over from Julien Moncet, who was moved on to a new role "related to Hyundai Motorsports future technology". The Frenchman left his role with the Enstone team prior to their evolution into Alpine, and was the head of Renault's F1 efforts from 2014 to 2020. He held a brief Team Principal role with Caterham before their closure, leading the team from 2013-2014. He perhaps became best known for being central to Renault and Red Bull's disputes in the early F1 turbo-hybrid era, and for losing a bet with then-Renault driver Daniel Ricciardo which resulted in him getting tattooed . Since leaving F1, Abiteboul had taken on advisory role at engine manufacturer Mecachrome.
Since their return for 2014, Hyundai Motorsport have taken two manufacturers titles (2019 & 2020), but have been unable to secure a drivers' championship in that time. “I am relishing the opportunity to join Hyundai Motorsport as team principal from 2023,” said Abiteboul. “In motorsport, like in the rest of their activities, the Hyundai brand is cautiously building its leadership. “I am excited at the prospect of being part of it, managing the WRC and Customer Racing programs, where the team has already proven to be strong competitors."
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