TOYOTA GAZOO Racing W2RC (TGR W2RC) continue to fight at the front in the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship season finale — the Rallye du Maroc — with Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleón moving up to second overall after another strong stage performance.

Stage 2 presented a demanding mix of rocky tracks, soft sand, and the first major dunes of the rally, pushing crews and machines to the limit. Visibility was particularly challenging as competitors raced near the Algerian border, with dust and glare making navigation extremely difficult.

Lucas Moraes and Armand Monleón, driving the #202 GR Hilux EVO, showcased their consistency and pace, finishing third on the stage. Their calculated approach through the dunes earned them valuable time, placing them firmly in second overall in the provisional standings.

Teammates Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings (#204) were also on course for a top result before a rear differential failure with 110 km remaining forced them to complete the stage using only front-wheel drive. Despite the setback, the crew managed to reach the finish line and remain in the rally.

Seth Quintero and Andrew Short (#205) experienced similar misfortune, as their GR Hilux EVO suffered the same technical issue in the dunes, ending their day prematurely after showing strong pace throughout the stage.

Stage 3 on Wednesday will be the longest and most demanding of the rally — a 322 km loop around Erfoud featuring deep dunes, rocky tracks, wadis, and camel grass — combining slow technical sections with high-speed action.

Driver Quotes

Henk Lategan (#204):
“Today was really tough for us. The rear diff failed with many kilometers still to go — far from ideal, especially before the dunes. It made crossing them almost impossible and ended our realistic championship hopes. The positive is that we can restart tomorrow; the car can be repaired, and we’ll continue gaining experience for next year.”

Lucas Moraes (#202):
“It was a very nice stage, and the car worked perfectly all day. The dunes were challenging, especially with visibility being so bad. Near the end, we caught Ekström but decided to follow him to avoid any dune hazards. It was a solid day — I’m thankful to the team, and we’ll keep pushing.”

Seth Quintero (#205):
“It started as a great day — smooth, consistent, and fast. We were leading for most of the stage before losing the rear diff right before the dunes, which unfortunately ended our Morocco rally. Still, we’re taking positives from this — the teamwork with Andrew is great, and my driving feels stronger than ever.”

Hyundai Motorsport returns to Central European Rally, the 12th round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), aiming to extend its winning streak on the challenging tarmac roads that weave through Germany, Austria, and Czechia.

Taking place from October 16–19, the event is known for its border-crossing stages and technical complexity, with crews tackling 306.08 km of competitive distance over 18 demanding stages.

Crossing Borders: A Unique Challenge

The 2025 itinerary introduces a fresh twist: the rally begins in Germany on Thursday evening, before moving across all three host countries on Friday and Saturday. The final day on Sunday will feature the Beyond Borders stage — crossing from Austria to Germany — and Mühltal, serving as both the Power Stage and the longest test of the event.

Hyundai arrives as the defending two-time winner, with Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe victorious in 2023 and Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja taking the win in 2024 — a triumph that sealed the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles for the team.

Strategic Focus for the Championship Fight

As the season enters its decisive phase, Hyundai is sharpening its strategy. For manufacturers’ points, only the crews of Neuville/Wydaeghe and Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria will be nominated. This allows the team to provide Tänak/Järveoja with the most competitive setup for their title campaign.

Under current regulations, Tänak and Järveoja will compete in the 2025 Rallye Monte-Carlo-spec Hyundai i20 N Rally1, equipped with a new engine — without incurring a five-minute penalty. The Monte-Carlo configuration, well-suited to tarmac, will give Tänak a crucial edge in the championship chase.

Meanwhile, Neuville and Fourmaux will debut upgrades on their 2025 evo-spec Hyundai i20 N Rally1 cars, featuring new damper struts designed to further enhance handling and stability. Their task will be both to deliver strong results and to continue evolving the car’s performance package ahead of the season finale.

Team Perspective

Cyril Abiteboul, Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal, commented:

“We’re fully committed to the championship fight and pushing for every point. In supporting Ott and Martin, we’re taking advantage of the sporting regulations by introducing a new engine without penalty. They will return to the Monte-spec i20 N Rally1 after positive test feedback. Meanwhile, Thierry and Adrien will continue development of the evo-spec car with damper updates — key for Rally Japan and beyond.”

Crew Notes

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

• Estonian crew aiming for maximum points in title battle

• Winners of the 2024 Central European Rally

Tänak said:

“We’ve competed here a few times now, so we know what to expect. Weather is always a major factor — the cuts make roads dirty, and grip levels change constantly. Experience really counts here. We’re still in the championship hunt, so a top performance is absolutely essential.”

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

• Targeting a third consecutive podium at the event

• Winners in 2023, third place in 2024

Neuville said:

“Central European Rally is close to home and one of my favourites, but it’s unpredictable. October weather makes grip levels tricky, and the amount of cuts increases puncture risk. Finding the right balance between risk and reward is key. We’ll be pushing for another podium — ideally, the win.”

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

• Won Rally2 category in 2023

• Looking to carry podium momentum from Rally Chile

Fourmaux said:

“This is one of the toughest events of the year. The contrast between the narrow Czech stages and the smoother German and Austrian roads makes tyre choice and grip assessment difficult. Switching back to tarmac after so many gravel rallies requires precision. We’re aiming to fight for the podium.”

Weekend at a Glance

• Thursday: Two loops of Golf und Therme (SS1/2, 12.83km)

• Friday: Cross-border action with Granit und Wald (SS3/8, 10.86km), Böhmerwald (SS4/7, 15.27km), and Col de Jan (SS5/6, 23.37km)

• Saturday: The longest day — Made in FRG (SS9/14, 14.30km), Keply (SS10/12, 21.95km), and Klatovy (SS11/13, 15.57km), totalling 103.64km

• Sunday: Final push with Beyond Borders (SS15/17, 12.37km) and Mühltal (SS16/18, 26.52km) — the Power Stage and event decider

When you ask most engineers at M-Sport where their passion began, you’ll often hear a familiar story — childhood curiosity about how machines work, long nights watching rally highlights, and the thrill of speed and precision. For Matthew, now a Junior Rally Engineer, that story began the same way: with an early fascination for cars and a determination to turn that passion into a lifelong career.

Ignition On: A New Chapter at M-Sport

“My name’s Matthew and I studied Electrical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Strathclyde,” he begins. “I joined M-Sport in October 2024 as a Graduate Transmissions Engineer.”

For Matthew, joining M-Sport was about more than simply finding his first role after university.
“I’ve been obsessed with cars since I was a kid. Throughout my studies, I knew I wanted to work in motorsport,” he says. “When I discovered M-Sport’s graduate programme, it immediately stood out — the chance to work for such a respected name in rallying, in a hands-on engineering environment, and in such a beautiful part of the country, felt like the perfect fit.”

Building Pace: From Theory to Track

Matthew’s first year at M-Sport has been packed with learning, discovery, and real-world engineering challenges. With a strong background in both electrical and mechanical systems, he was eager to put his knowledge into action.
“My studies gave me a solid foundation in mechanical systems and problem-solving — essential for understanding how transmissions perform under the extreme demands of rallying,” he explains.

His experience building a Formula Student car at university had already sparked a love for applied engineering, making the transition to M-Sport a natural next step.
“Joining M-Sport felt like the perfect progression,” Matthew says. “It’s where you take everything you’ve learned in theory and apply it to real-world motorsport. The team has been incredibly supportive, helping me build on that foundation and grow as an engineer.”

One standout moment came early on. “It really hit me when I went to watch the Carlisle Stages BRC,” he recalls. “Seeing Romet and Garry fly past in Rally2 cars — and then watching Romet win — was incredible. That’s when I realised: wow, I’m really part of something big here.”

In the Fast Lane: Life at M-Sport

Life in motorsport is all about adapting, reacting, and improving — and Matthew thrives on that energy.
“It’s exciting, fast, and no two days are ever the same,” he says. Following M-Sport’s success on the world stage has been a proud experience.
“Watching our cars compete and knowing I’ve played even a small part in that is amazing,” he says. “Seeing Jon and Romet take a 1-2 at Ceredigion was a real highlight. That’s when all the hard work pays off — everyone here wants to win.”

Shifting Up a Gear: Growing with M-Sport

After completing his first year, Matthew moved into the role of Junior Rally Engineer — a testament to how quickly graduates can progress within M-Sport.
“The title is new, but I’m still learning every day,” he explains. “The graduate scheme gave me a strong foundation, and now I’m taking on more responsibility and more complex projects.”

Looking ahead, Matthew aims to continue developing his skills and eventually lead his own engineering projects.
“I’d love to lead a project one day. It’s a big goal, but being surrounded by so many talented people makes it feel achievable.”

Navigating the Next Stage: Advice for Aspiring Engineers

When it comes to advice, Matthew keeps it simple:
“Get as much hands-on experience as possible. It doesn’t have to be directly in motorsport — anything practical and automotive-related helps. Employers look for curiosity, initiative, and effort. Don’t be afraid to get stuck in and learn by doing.”

He adds, “If you’re passionate about motorsport and ready to learn, M-Sport is the perfect place to start your career. You’ll be challenged, supported, and surrounded by people who share that same drive to be the best. You don’t just learn at M-Sport — you live engineering every day.”

Matthew’s story perfectly captures what the M-Sport Graduate Programme is all about: passion, progress, and performance. For graduates ready to see their engineering come alive on the rally stage — and be part of a team that never stops pushing forward — M-Sport is where careers go full throttle.