The Korean marque had made a bold statement ahead of next season by re-signing 2019 world champion Ott Tanak to join the already contracted Thierry Neuville.
Hyundai is yet to announce its plans for its full driver line-up for 2024 as the team continues to evaluate whether to field three cars or expand to four i20Ns. As Abiteboul has explained, the team will make its decision in a “well-considered way” in the coming weeks with a call expected before Rally Japan next month.
Hyundai currently has Lappi, Dani Sordo, Teemu Suninen and Emil Lindholm on its books, the latter two being part of Hyundai’s relaunched driver development programme.
Should the team opt to run three cars, then there is the possibility of continuing its strategy of sharing the car between two drivers. This could offer the prospect of Lappi and Suninen sharing the car, while the team has already earmarked that a possible fourth car would be designated for a young driver.
Lappi has impressed this season having left a part-time driving role at Toyota to fill Hyundai's second full-time season that was vacated by Tanak following the Estonian’s decision to join M-Sport for 2023.
Lappi has scored four podiums to date and has played a significant role in developing the i20N which has benefitted Neuville.
Asked if Lappi was a driver he would like to keep in the team moving forward, Abiteboul told Autosport: “I think what we like in particular is Esapekka's commitment to improve the car.
Source: Autosport