Hyundai Motorsport ventures to Asia for the 13th and final round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship season, Rally Japan, hungry to make this its most successful season yet.

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team has already scored its most amount of points ever in a single season – as well as equalling of the greatest number of wins. With the potential to claim all three titles in Japan, all three crews are ready for the final battle.

The drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship titles have come down to the wire, with only Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe or Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja still in contention. The Belgians have led the charge since the first round of the season in Monte-Carlo and need only five points to secure the crowns. Meanwhile, their Estonian counterparts – who took their second win of the year at last month’s Central European Rally – will be pushing for a strong result to enhance their chances of a second individual title.

The contest for the manufacturers’ title is extremely tight, with only 15 points separating the Alzenau-based outfit from its nearest rivals Toyota – underscoring the need for a strong team effort. Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksen, who surged to victory with a dominant performance in the WRC2 class at Rally Japan last year, are looking to capitalise on their previous experience in the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid.

Acting as the season finale for the third consecutive year, Rally Japan traverses 302.59km of forested foothills and tarmac roads. The 21 stages can change drastically depending on weather conditions; as autumn ends and winter looms, rain and colder conditions can be expected once again with the event taking place one week later than the year previous. With twisting passes and plenty of fallen leaves, grip can be unpredictable as the event progresses.

2024’s itinerary features three new stages: Shinshiro (SS4/7, 17.41km), Mt. Kasagi (SS10/13, 16.47km) and Lake Mikawako (SS18/21, 13.98km). In addition, two 2023 stages have been combined into Inabu/Shitara, providing a brand-new challenge in front of a familiar backdrop. A highlight of the event is the duelling nature of the Toyota Stadium, contested three times: in front of a sea of passionate fans, two drivers go head-to-head in an epic battle for glory – much like this year’s FIA WRC fight.

Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “We head to Japan full of anticipation for what is to come. Right now, I want to acknowledge the hard work of both Thierry and Martijn and Ott and Martin this year. As a team, we will support both crews as they push to finish in the top spot of the Championship bringing home Hyundai’s first WRC drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles. In addition to that, we will do all we can to take a clean sweep and claim the manufacturers’ title too. We know it will be very difficult as Toyota are always very strong and motivated in Japan. A key element will be to be very realistic about what is at stake for all, and see how we can show the best possible team effort to finish the season with the strongest statement of what has been demonstrated all the way since the opening round in Monte Carlo.”

Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/ Martijn Wydaeghe (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)

• Crew heads to the final round with a 25-point advantage
• Belgians hoping to seal first ever drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships

Neuville said: “The target at Rally Japan is to bring home that drivers’ title and to support the team in the fight for the manufacturers’ championship as well. We have done a good job on that already throughout the season, but of course if there is any opportunity where we can support those efforts, then we will. In Japan, the weather and the roads make the biggest difference. They are super dirty when it’s cold, and the leaves on the road make grip very challenging. There are also some new stages, so altogether it’s going to be a very challenging event. We have no testing for Japan, so all of our information has been carried over from Central European Rally. We have plenty of the feedback from previous years here, so we can predict the starting set-up now before doing the fine tuning when we arrive in Japan.”

Crew Notes: Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (#8 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)

• Estonians are the only other crew in contention for drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles
• Crew’s Japanese efforts will also aid manufacturers’ championship pursuit

Tänak said: “Rally Japan is another pretty challenging event, probably one of the most difficult we have done on tarmac. It’s definitely the slowest tarmac rally we have done this year; it’s very twisty, narrow, more or less slow everywhere. Normally the stages are never-ending, so together with surface changes and general challenges it’s a tricky event. Japan is crucial for all the championships, so we are definitely planning to do everything we can to give our best performance. With the situation we are in in the championships, we cannot afford to hold back. We know Toyota will go all in and the points difference is pretty small, so we definitely need to fight to keep our lead. All of us need to do their best job: will go into this in fighting mode with the plan to give it our best.”

Crew Notes: Andreas Mikkelsen/Torstein Eriksen(#9 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)

• Norwegians return to Japan as defending WRC2 event winners
• Fifth event of the 2024 season for Mikkelsen/Eriksen

Mikkelsen said: “Rally Japan is an event that I did for the first time last year. It was very enjoyable even though the conditions were very, very difficult, but it was a great challenge. The roads are very twisty and very technical, and at this time of the year the conditions are even more unpredictable. It’s quite different to all the other tarmac rallies that we compete at, the only rally that could be a bit similar is Corsica in terms of being very technical – but it contrasts greatly to Central European Rally. My goal for the weekend is to help us seal the manufacturers’ title. The most important aspect of this event will obviously be the fight with Toyota, so I am sure it will be tough fight them on their home ground – they have nothing to lose. It will be a very big battle, but I think we are all ready for it.”

Weekend at a Glance

• Competitive action begins under the floodlights of SS1 Toyota Stadium (2.15km) on Thursday night
• Friday opens with the longest stage of the weekend, the notoriously narrow SS2/5 Isegami’s Tunnel (23.67km)
• The brand-new SS10/13 Mt. Kasagi stage debuts on Saturday morning, opening the third day of competition
• Five stages close the 2024 FIA WRC season, with SS21 Lake Mikawako 2 acting as the weekend’s Power Stage.