Neuville Plans a Lighter 2027 WRC Schedule After a Tough Season
After 15 straight full seasons, Thierry Neuville says he won't contest a full WRC campaign in 2027. He wants a calmer year and hopes it brings back his fighting spirit.
Fifteen full seasons. Zero missed rounds. That's the odometer reading on Thierry Neuville's WRC career, and even the most bulletproof rig eventually earns a day in the driveway.
Neuville has confirmed he won't contest a full World Rally Championship season in 2027. He told DirtFish he doesn't yet know what his future looks like, only that he expects to be around in some form. Under what circumstances? Still an open question.
A final stage with a wave
On the last stage of this season, Neuville set the fastest time in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 and waved to the crowd. That's a nice image for a driver who, by his own account, was happy to see the year end.
He told DirtFish it wasn't his best season. He did win one event for Hyundai and came close to winning a second, so it wasn't empty-handed. But he described the stretch since his 2024 title as tough and getting tougher.
What a lighter year might do
Neuville said he'd be comfortable doing less. He suggested a calmer year could bring back his energy and fighting spirit. That's a plain-spoken read on what a long grind does to anyone, whether you're chasing championship points or just driving to a far-off trailhead after a very long week.
His résumé explains the fatigue. He's been a full-time WRC driver since 2012, starting with the Citroën Junior Team, then moving to M-Sport and on to Hyundai, where he's spent most of that time. Early on he also ran Junior WRC and IRC alongside his WRC schedule.
He's not the first champion to ease off
Neuville joins a growing list of recent champions who have stepped back from the full-time routine:
- Sébastien Ogier went part-time from 2022.
- Kalle Rovanperä left the WRC after a full 2025.
- Ott Tänak took a sabbatical this year.
Elfyn Evans, the new world champion, is the only 2020s champion who hasn't reduced or paused his program, according to DirtFish. So the newest title holder is the one still turning up to every round.
The takeaway
If you've ever kept a project rig running past the point where it was fun, this one will feel familiar. Neuville's plan is a reminder that backing off a bit can be a smart move, not a surrender. Expect him around in 2027, just not necessarily on every stage.
Sometimes the best upgrade is a few weekends in the garage.
Source: DirtFish. Photo by Maxime Agnelli on Unsplash.
Get stories like this weekly
One email a week with the best new stories. No spam. Unsubscribe any time. See our privacy policy.
More in Motorsport News
Baja 1000 Preview: Three Riders Are Perfect Heading Into the Finale
Tyler Lynn, Jason Miller and Harold Harris have won every SCORE round this season in their classes. One 964.66-mile race down Baja is all that stands between them and the titles.
Ducati Wins Its First 24 Hours of Glen Helen by One Lap
Hero Racing's Desmo450 took the 27th Glen Helen 24 Hour after a trailside stop, a charge through the rain and a Husqvarna that had to be pushed to the line.
WORCS Mesquite: SLR Honda Sweeps Pro Classes in a Rain-Soaked Sand Slog
Tropical Storm Rachel turned round nine into a survival test. Tyler Lynn and Sam Pretscherer won for SLR Honda, and Lauren Woods locked up another Women's Pro title.
Rebelle Rally Day 3: Storms Cut the Course, Team 131 Leads 4x4
Mud, a rerouted section and a weather shutdown ended Day 3 after five checkpoints. All teams made it back safely, and Team 131 leads 4x4 while Team 200 leads X-Cross.