2023 would mark Dani Sordo’s 20th anniversary in the World Rally Championship, but the experienced Spaniard does not yet know if and where he will be driving next year
Dani Sordo made his debut in the World Rally Championship (WRC) at the Rally Spain in 2003 and has contested WRC rounds in every season since. But whether the Spaniard will be able to celebrate his 20th anniversary in the WRC next year is still open at the moment.
“At the moment I don’t know what the plan is [for next season],” Sordo is quoted as saying on the WRC’s official website. “All I know is that it won’t be a full season in the WRC. I have some other ideas now, some cross-country rallies, and that can be interesting as well.”
Sordo, who has won three WRC rallies in his WRC career, has been part of the South Korean manufacturer’s factory driver squad since Hyundai returned in the 2014 season. However, he has not driven a full season since 2018, instead sharing the factory team’s third car with other drivers.
Fourth start of the season at Rally Spain
In the current season, Sordo is alternating with Oliver Solberg. Sordo is scheduled to make his fourth start of the season at Rally Spain in October. The Spaniard hopes that there will be clarity about his future following his home rally.
The 39-year-old would like to continue driving in the WRC as long as he is competitive there. “I want to stay as long as I am a good driver,” he says. “As long as I feel I’m fast and driving well, I’m happy.”
“I don’t want to come to a rally and wait for the others to drop out so I can score points,” adds Sordo. “At the moment I am enjoying the driving and the battles. If that is no longer the case, then I will stop. ”
Situation at Hyundai still unclear
Hyundai deputy team principal Julien Moncet had said after the Acropolis Rally that the team was exploring possible driver options for next year. While the cooperation with Thierry Neuville is to continue, Ott Tänak, despite having an existing contract, is set to leave.
The Estonian had publicly criticised the team several times this season, most recently after a team order at the Acropolis Rally, which he felt deprived him of a chance to win.
