Driver Profile
From junior competition to a long-standing Hyundai mainstay
Belgian driver Neuville began appearing in the WRC in 2009 and had already finished runner-up in the drivers’ championship by 2013. He joined Hyundai when the manufacturer returned to the WRC in 2014, gradually becoming a core driver in its programme. His experience spans Hyundai’s early i20 rally cars and the later Rally1 era.
At Rally Mexico in 2014, he secured Hyundai’s first podium since its return; victory at Rally Germany later that year helped the team achieve a one-two finish. These results came while Hyundai was still rebuilding its ability to compete in the top class, making them not only personal breakthroughs but also important milestones in the team’s development.
A sustained title challenge and the 2024 world championship
Neuville contributed to Hyundai’s manufacturers’ championship-winning seasons in 2019 and 2020, and also took victory in the team’s podium sweep at the 2022 Acropolis Rally in Greece. A driver’s pursuit of rally wins is intertwined with the manufacturer’s collective results, but the drivers’ title still demands a sustained individual points campaign throughout the season.
After the season-ending Rally Japan in 2024, he became WRC drivers’ world champion for the first time, while co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe also won the co-drivers’ title. By that year, Neuville had spent eleven seasons with Hyundai. That long partnership provides the context for his championship story, rather than attributing the outcome to a chance success at a single rally.
A regular crew and an experienced presence in 2026
In 2026, Neuville drives the No. 11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1, continuing his partnership with Wydaeghe. They are one of Hyundai’s two regular crews, tasked with competing consistently across the rounds, gathering feedback and pursuing results in a line-up where different drivers rotate through the third car.
The crew’s preparation includes reconnaissance, video review and organising pace notes. Neuville’s extensive experience with Hyundai machinery helps him communicate what he feels on different stages to the engineers. Familiarity with the car does not, however, guarantee identical conditions at every rally: asphalt, mud and gravel still demand specific set-up choices and competitive judgement.
What to watch
Editorial analysis: Watching Neuville offers a chance to observe how a crew maintains its rhythm as grip levels change, particularly how stage times shift when asphalt roads become dirty and slippery. Attacking an individual stage and targeting points over an entire rally may call for different approaches. Looking at the overall time gaps, tyre choices and service records can help explain more accurately why he takes risks on some sections and leaves a margin on others.
How results are recorded
Rally1 overall results, WRC2 class results, fastest stage times and full-season championships are recorded separately. This page is a snapshot of profile information; for the latest drivers’ and FIA manufacturers’ points, please see this site’s championship standings.
Last checked: 1 October 2026 · Historical statistics and current points are maintained separately