Martijn Wydaeghe
Sharing positivity with the team is what makes us stronger all together
Martijn Wydaeghe
Facts about Martijn
- Nationality
- Belgium
- Date of birth
- 01. September 1992
- Driver
- Thierry Neuville
- With Hyundai Motorsport since
- 2021
- WRC starts
- 69 (end of 2024)
- Best result
- 2024 WRC co-drivers’ championship title
2024 WRC Co-Drivers’ champion Martijn started his rally career at an early age – 19 – making his co-driving debut in the second round of the Belgian Rally Championship, TAC Rally, in 2012.
A year later, Martijn made his first appearance at a World Rally Championship event with Philip Cracco at the 2013 Rallye de France – Alsace, where they finished fifth in class.
Martijn’s relationship with the Hyundai Motorsport team began in 2016, when he joined forces with Chewon Lim as part of the Hyundai Motorsport Driver Development Program (HMDP). In 2021, Martijn competed in his debut full season in WRC as the co-driver to fellow Belgian, Thierry Neuville, with whom he continues to rally. He claimed his first WRC victory at his home event, Ypres Rally Belgium, in 2021 before securing wins at Rally de España, Acropolis Rally – where the team finished 1-2-3 for the first time in our history – and Rally Japan in 2022.
Martijn’s fourth season alongside Thierry ended in style, seeing the Belgian claim the highest honours and bring home Hyundai Motorsport’s first ever co-drivers’ championship title at 2024 Rally Japan.
Q&A with Martijn
What is your favorite WRC round and why?
Monte Carlo and Kenya! They are both legendary events with a huge amount of challenges. Challenges that I really like as a co-driver because you need to adapt constantly to different circumstances. They are both events where you have to play to “long game” to achieve a good result.
What do you do to focus before a rally?
For me it’s a mix of sport and preparation behind the desk. I combine them every day to have a good physical and mental preparation, and the closer we get to the event, the more I become focused. Going through all the information and data, and selecting the most relevant ones helps me getting ready for the event.
Which profession would you have chosen if you hadn’t become a rally driver?
I have only one goal in my life, and that is to be at the top of this sport. So, I would like to keep it as it is now and not change anything.
Who is your motorsport idol?
I have two actually. I grew up in the 90’s and started to follow the WRC in the 00’s.
I was a big fan of Sébastien Loeb and I still am. I have so much respect for his achievements. Being Belgian, also Freddy Loix is also a huge influence for me, and I’m inspired by his way of working.
What’s your secret to success?
It’s all about being positive and keeping calm in every situation. Sharing this positivity and calmness with Thierry and the team is what makes us stronger all together.
Latest Results
Rally Japan
Retired
Central European Rally
Retired
Rally Chile
4th place