The Hyundai driver took a 4.9s lead into the ultimate day after profitable 9 of the 16 levels as much as that time, in what was an intense battle with Toyota’s Elfyn Evans.
Nevertheless, each Neuville and Evans hit bother in stage 18 on Sunday morning, which successfully ended the pair’s victory hopes.
Neuville drifted right into a grass financial institution following a late pacenote name, costing him 23.3s whereas inflicting important harm to the i20N’s rear wing that left him unable to battle within the remaining two levels.
Whereas annoyed at lacking a chance to attain maybe certainly one of his best victories, Neuville was blissful to match rival Evans in scoring 19 factors and keep his six-point championship.
“Undoubtedly there’s a frustration however alternatively we have now been properly rewarded yesterday after our nice drive on Friday and Saturday [to score 18 points] they usually had been necessary factors they usually have made the distinction,” Neuville informed Motorsport.com.
“Regardless of not scoring many factors immediately we had been nonetheless the third finest performer and equal with Evans and solely misplaced one level to Ott [Tanak]. We will’t say it was a catastrophe.
“The stage [where we crashed] was actually tough however what occurred, occurred. I attempted my finest to keep away from it, however we had been simply far too late and once I acquired the pacenote I instantly hit the brakes, however the nook was a lot tighter and there was nothing I might do.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photograph by: Romain Thuillier / Hyundai Motorsport
“It [the car] was undrivable [without the rear wing], I couldn’t anticipate it, however it was a catastrophe. I used to be driving quick on the final stage and I misplaced 30 seconds.”
Though blissful to guide the championship, Neuville expects a tricky battle to carry onto his benefit when the WRC returns to gravel, starting with Portugal subsequent month.
“I’m blissful to nonetheless be within the lead and blissful to maintain at the very least our benefit as a result of it’s no secret that from Portugal onwards it’s going to be powerful for us with a number of gravel rallies in a row,” he added.
“With out actually heavy rain or completely different circumstances, it will likely be powerful for us to attain many factors on Friday and Saturday however Sunday may very well be a bit higher if we have now a greater street place.”
