Hands Joined Jeong Eui-sun and Akio... Korea-Japan Motorsport Rivalry, Harmony Over Competition

Chung Eui-sun and Toyota Chairman Attend WRC Event Together
Hyundai Driver Wins First Victory
Toyota Manufacturer Secures Comeback Win... 4 Consecutive Years of Victory
"Exchange Between Both Companies Through Motorsports... Will Continue Technological Advancement Through Competition"

The heads of the Korean and Japanese automotive groups, who dominate the global car market, met once again at the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) awards ceremony. At this motorsport event, which attracted over 30,000 spectators worldwide, Hyundai took the driver category win, while Toyota claimed the manufacturer category victory, emphasizing harmony through competition.

At the 2024 WRC awards ceremony held on the 24th (local time) in Nagoya, Japan, Toyota won the manufacturer category, and Hyundai won the driver category. The competition, featuring three manufacturers including Hyundai, Toyota, and Ford, was essentially a Korea-Japan showdown. The ceremony, which concluded the rally season of the past year, was graced by the presence of Hyundai Chairman Chung Euisun and Toyota Chairman Akio Toyoda, adding weight to the event.

On the 24th, at the WRC event held at Toyota Stadium in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Eui-sun (left in the photo) and Toyota Motor Corporation Chairman Akio Toyoda warmly shook hands. Photo by Hyundai Motor Company

Chung Euisun and Toyoda Anticipate Cooperation on Hydrogen Infrastructure

That morning, the two chairmen toured the service park center where the Toyota Gazoo Racing team’s rally cars were being repaired. Toyota has introduced a plan to use electricity generated by hydrogen power generators at this center. Chairman Chung showed interest in this hydrogen power system and had a brief conversation with Chairman Toyoda.

Meeting with domestic reporters at the event, Chairman Toyoda said, "I think there will be cooperation with Hyundai in related fields such as hydrogen infrastructure," adding, "Personally, I also drive hydrogen engine racing cars in endurance races. I hope hydrogen will become the vehicle that shapes the future."

This meeting between the two leaders was their third, including this event. Earlier this year, Chairman Chung visited Japan and met Chairman Toyoda, where the idea of a joint motorsport event was proposed. This idea was realized at the end of October, about a month before the final WRC rally, in Yongin, Korea. Last month, Hyundai and Toyota held the 'Hyundai N × Toyota Gazoo Racing Festival' event, with the highlight being Chairman Toyoda driving and Chairman Chung riding shotgun in a rally car performing drifts on the circuit.

On the 24th, Akio Toyota, Chairman of the Toyota Group (left in the photo), and Chung Eui-sun, Chairman of Hyundai Motor Group, met in Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and visited the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Service Park to have a conversation. Photo by the Toyota joint press corps.

The two leaders, heading the global automotive industry’s first and third largest companies, emphasized both competition and harmony through the international motorsport event WRC. Although competition and harmony are opposing concepts, the essence of all sports is ultimately harmony. The spirit of challenge through competition and the rivalry structure serve as opportunities to elevate each other’s capabilities. Chairman Toyoda said, "Through motorsports, both companies will strive for victory and hone their technologies to jointly create 'cars that everyone wants to buy.'"

This sportsmanship also applies to business. Hyundai and Toyota are competing head-to-head in major global car markets such as North America, India, and the Middle East. Due to the global 'electric vehicle chasm (temporary demand slump)' phenomenon, Toyota and Hyundai, which possess hybrid technology, have begun to attract attention in the market. If this chasm phenomenon continues for some time, a two-strong structure of Toyota and Hyundai is expected in the global automotive market.

Hyundai Wins Driver Category, Toyota Wins Manufacturer Category

In this year’s WRC season, Hyundai and Toyota amicably shared the victories. Hyundai won the driver category, while Toyota lifted the manufacturer category trophy. This is Hyundai’s first time winning the driver category, and Toyota achieved its fourth consecutive manufacturer category win.

The outcome of the competition was decided in the final 17th round of the Japan rally when Ott T?nak of the Hyundai World Rally Team dropped out midway due to vehicle damage. Ultimately, with T?nak leaving the rally while leading, Thierry Neuville of the Hyundai World Rally Team secured the overall driver category championship with 242 points. In the manufacturer category, Toyota Gazoo Racing Team scored 561 points, narrowly overtaking Hyundai by just 3 points.

After the event, Chairman Toyoda said, "The winning drivers and teams created a moving story for us," adding, "I think many people will say, 'Rally is really fun' because of this competition." Chairman Chung, who watched the event, also encouraged the drivers and supported the development of motorsports.