Hyundai Boss: I Don’t Know What Tanak Needs; I’m Still Looking for the Answer to This Puzzle
Hyundai’s Title Hopes Crash in Japan as tanak’s Late Error Hands Toyota Championship
Hyundai Motorsport’s hopes of securing the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title suffered a devastating blow in Japan as Ott Tanak’s late crash handed the crown to Toyota and Thierry Neuville.
Tanak, who had dominated the rally for the first three days, held a commanding lead heading into Sunday’s final stages. His performance threatened to derail Toyota’s championship aspirations, denying them crucial points needed to overtake Hyundai in the standings.
Though, a costly error in the penultimate stage saw Tanak lose control of his car, effectively ending his rally and handing the championship to Neuville. The incident cost Hyundai 18 points, which Toyota capitalized on to secure the title by a mere three points.
“We need to discuss how to improve the situation and ensure he avoids these mistakes in the future,” saeid Hyundai Motorsport boss Cyril Abiteboul,acknowledging the team’s disappointment. “This year there have been several such incidents.”
Photo: Ladislav Holeček
Abiteboul, who joined Hyundai at the start of the 2023 season and signed Tanak for 2024, admitted he is still learning to understand the Estonian driver as well as he understands neuville.
“I feel I have let Ott down by not providing him with the platform he needs,mainly in terms of communication,” Abiteboul confessed. “Every driver has different needs. I don’t know what Ott wants or what he needs. I’m still looking for the answer to this puzzle.”
Abiteboul highlighted Neuville’s stability and clarity as key factors in his championship success. He emphasized the importance of creating a team plan that instilled confidence and allowed Neuville to approach the season strategically rather than as a series of individual rallies.
“Neuville is a very structured person. He needed someone who could provide clarity and practicality, and I was able to offer that,” Abiteboul explained. “But what does Ott need? That’s the question I need to find the answer to during this short off-season.”
reflecting on tanak’s crash, Abiteboul acknowledged the difficulty of knowing whether drivers fully understand their limits.
“We had a clear target, and looking at the stage times, it was clear Ott was taking risks,” Abiteboul admitted. ”We discussed with his engineer how to tell him to slow down and stick to the plan after the stage, but sadly, we didn’t get there. But yes, the target was clear. I don’t have the impression that he didn’t want to stick to the plan, so I believe the problem was mainly in the execution, not the planning.”
Tanak’s Crash Leaves Hyundai With More Questions Than Answers: An Interview With Cyril Abiteboul
Newsdirectory3.com: Hyundai’s championship hopes were shattered in Japan after Ott Tanak’s late crash handed the title to Toyota and Thierry Neuville. cyril Abiteboul, Hyundai Motorsport boss, sits down with us to discuss the devastating blow and what it means for the future of the team.
ND3: Cyril,the emotions must be raw right now. How are you and the team processing this disappointment?
Cyril Abiteboul: It’s obviously a very challenging moment for the team. We came here with high hopes, and Ott was in a commanding position. To see it all unravel in the final stages is incredibly frustrating. It’s a painful reminder that motorsport can be incredibly cruel.
ND3: Tanak’s mistake cost Hyundai 18 crucial points.Looking back, were there any warning signs that might have prevented this outcome?
CA: We need to discuss how to improve the situation and ensure he avoids these mistakes in the future. This year there have been several such incidents. It’s clear we need to analyze what happened and understand why these errors are occurring.
ND3: You joined hyundai at the start of this season and signed Tanak for 2024. How woudl you describe yoru understanding of him as a driver compared to, say, Thierry Neuville?
CA: I feel I have let Ott down by not providing him with the platform he needs, mainly in terms of communication. every driver has different needs. I don’t know whatOtt wants or what he needs. I’m still looking for the answer to this puzzle.
ND3: Neuville’s consistency and strategic approach played a crucial role in his championship win. What are the key learnings you will take from this season into next year?
CA: Neuville is a very structured person. He needed someone who could provide clarity and practicality, and I was able to offer that. But what does Ott need? That’s the question I need to find the answer to during this short off-season.
ND3: looking specifically at Tanak’s crash, do you believe drivers sometimes push beyond thier limits, even when they know the risks?
CA: We had a clear target, and looking at the stage times, it was clear Ott was taking risks. We discussed with his engineer how to tell him to slow down and stick to the plan after the stage, but sadly, we didn’t get there. But yes, the target was clear. I don’t have the impression that he didn’t want to stick to the plan, so I believe the problem was mainly in the execution, not the planning.