The number #1 will return to the World Rally Championship for the first time since 2022 with new champion Thierry Neuville set to adopt the number for the 2025 campaign.
The Hyundai driver in recent years has become synonymous with the #11 – a number which he first utilised in the WRC in 2013, before adopting it on a full-time basis from 2019.
However, next season will see the #1 adorn Neuville’s i20 N Rally1 after he finally lifted a maiden world title this year.
It will mark a return for the number in the WRC for the first time since 2021 champion Sebastien Ogier ran the #1 on his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 during his partial 2022 campaign.
Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanpera elected to run his preferred #69 instead of #1 in 2023 and 2024 after his championship successes.
“It is no secret we already have number ones on the car but now it will be only one number one. I’m looking forward to it,” Neuville told Autosport.
Reflecting on his 2024 title success, Neuville says the achievement is beginning to sink in especially after a special celebration event in his native Belgium.
Worldchampion Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: McKlein / Motorsport Images
“It feels good to be honest. Obviously it is the best reward we can get for all the hard work over the past years not only this season. It has been a nice journey and a challenging journey, for sure, but we are proud,” he added.
“We have had some great celebrations in Belgium with more than 2000 people coming together to celebrate when we came back. That was a nice moment and I won’t forget it.
“I was so surprised to see that most of the people were more happy than I was. We could really feel that the people were cheering for us throughout the season, and were relieved that we finally did it.”
Neuville’s title defence will begin with the annual Monte Carlo WRC season opener from 23-26 January.
The 2025 campaign will see crews adapt to significant changes in regulations for next year, with the championship opting to abandon hybrid power from the cars, while also introducing a new control tyre supplier in Hankook.
The WRC will also utilise a new points system with Saturday points scrapped in favour of increasing the total reward on offer during an event to 35 points.
“We will have to see what happens [without hybrid and with new tyres]. I don’t expect much difference from before, and from the outside people will not see anything different,” Neuville added.
In this article
Tom Howard
WRC
Thierry Neuville
Hyundai Motorsport
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