Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is targeting a clean and competitive performance

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team heads to Rally Japan, round 13 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), with the aim of delivering a consistent performance before the final event in Saudi Arabia.

Based in the Aichi and Gifu prefectures, Rally Japan covers 305.34 km across 20 tarmac stages. Since returning to the calendar in 2022, the event has earned a reputation for its narrow, twisty roads bordered by trees, barriers and steep drops. With unpredictable autumn conditions adding rain, fog and fallen leaves, precision and patience will be critical across the weekend.

Following a bittersweet podium at the Central European Rally, Ott Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja remain mathematically in contention for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles. The crew will again compete in the Monte-Carlo-spec Hyundai i20 N Rally1, selected to give them consistency from Central European Rally and with it the best chance of maximising championship points.

Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe return to Japan looking to rebound after a frustrating weekend at Central European Rally. The Belgian crew, who secured their championship crowns at the event last year, will be aiming for a cleaner run on Japan’s demanding roads.

Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria head to Japan following a solid fifth-place finish at the Central European Rally. Making their first start at the event with Hyundai, the French crew are focused on maintaining their consistent pace and contributing to the team’s push to finish the season on a high.

Action at Rally Japan begins on Thursday evening with a Super Special in Kuragaike Park before Friday’s route heads deep into the mountains of Aichi. Saturday takes crews north into Gifu for the rally’s longest and most technical stages, with the final runs through Nukata, Okazaki and the Lake Mikawako Power Stage bringing the event to a close on Sunday.

Hyundai Motorsport WRC Sporting Director Andrew Wheatley said:

“We’re looking to Rally Japan with a view to continue the development of our tarmac performance, following the intensive work done before Central European Rally. While we can be encouraged by our steps forward in recent weeks – with both Thierry and Ott taking stage wins at CER – we need to keep the foot on the gas for this final tarmac event of the year, and ready for the start of the 2026 season. With 70 points still available, Ott and Martin remain one of the four crews still in the fight for the drivers’ championship, but this event will require them to be in a strong position to capitalise on any issues for their fellow competitors if they are to take the battle to the last round.”

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

• Crew will compete in the Monte-Carlo-spec car for a second rally
• Best Rally Japan finish was second place in 2022

Tänak said: “Japan is one of the slowest of the tarmac rallies. We’ve only ever competed when the weather is unpredictable, so with the changing conditions, it’s one of the most challenging tarmac events. There’s definitely an optimum way to set up – it’s actually quite a smooth rally, so not much protection is needed. It’s more about precision and managing the low-grip conditions. We’re lucky to be able to go there at a time of year when the nature is so colourful, the atmosphere is always very warm and kind, so I love going there. For sure, I hope to give my best in Japan, so let’s see how it goes, and hopefully the minor changes we’ve made to the car since CER will help us get a good feeling right away to fight at the top.”

Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (#1 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)

• Returning to scene of 2024 title triumph
• Rally Japan winners in 2022

Neuville said: “We’ve definitely had some great memories in Japan. We’re very keen to go back and target another good result, but in our current position we have to focus on improving the car and learning as much as we can from this event, rather than on a top result. We know how technically challenging the event is – it is probably the most twisty event I’ve ever done on tarmac! It’s very demanding and requires a lot of energy and concentration. Due to the time of year, we’re expecting lots of leaves, tricky road conditions and lots of humidity – everything is possible in Japan!”

Crew Notes: Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (#16 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)

• Frenchmen claimed third at Rally Japan last year
• Targeting consistent pace and a smooth run

Fourmaux said: “Rally Japan is unique. The mountain stages are twisty, narrow, and quite dark due to the high trees. In the dry, it is demanding on the tyres, but in the rain it is a completely different challenge. There is a lot of pollution on the roads, which get really slippery, and combined with the visibility it can be really tricky. We struggled for some performance in CER, so we want to show the steps we have made since that rally. Last year was a great event for us, and we would like to replicate that result and be back on the podium in Japan.”

Weekend at a Glance

• Cars take to the stages for the first time on Thursday, with Shakedown at Kuragaike Park followed by the Kuragaike Super Special Stage (SS1, 2.75km) in the evening
• Friday’s action takes crews deep into the mountains of Aichi, featuring two loops of Inabu Shitara (SS2/6, 17.08km), Shinshiro (SS3/7, 17.41km) and Isegami’s Tunnel (SS4/5, 19.66km)
• Saturday is the longest and most technical day of the rally, with two runs of Obara (SS8/13, 16.44km), Ena (SS9/12, 21.25km) and Mt. Kasagi (SS10/SS11, 21.74km) – before concluding with a run of Toyota City (SS14, 3.05km)
• Sunday will round off the event with Nukata (SS15/19, 20.23km) and Lake Mikawako (SS16/20, 13.98km) split by two attempts of Okazaki (SS17/18, 1.98km).