Thierry Neuville believes his Acropolis Rally victory is a big second and a “large launch of strain” in his pursuit of a maiden World Rally Championship title.
Neuville clinched his second win of the season after coming via some of the demanding occasions in current WRC historical past the place eight of the 9 Rally1 automobiles hit hassle.
The Hyundai driver recovered from an engine concern on Friday to clinch victory and lead a 1-2-3 for Hyundai following a dramatic ultimate stage, the place his major title rival and Toyota driver Sebastian Ogier rolled.
Ogier was in a position to attain the stage end after finishing a fast restore on his GR Yaris to assert 13 Saturday factors. However the eight-time world champion has dropped to 3rd within the championship standings behind Ott Tanak, who now trails Neuville by 34 factors with three rounds remaining.
Hyundai locked out the rostrum as Ogier’s accident promoted Dani Sordo to second and Tanak to 3rd.
Reflecting on his first win for the reason that opening spherical in Monte Carlo in January, Neuville advised Motorsport.com: “I felt a giant launch of strain. It was a demanding race, there’s no secrets and techniques you’ve seen it has been difficult for everyone.
“Clearly sooner or later since yesterday morning we had been ready the place we couldn’t afford a mistake, we couldn’t afford a puncture however we simply needed to maintain it going and it wasn’t straightforward, however we’ve made it work.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Picture by: McKlein / Motorsport Photos
“We stored very calm and I felt like I had the instruments to do it and I felt comfy within the automotive, there was no mistake, nothing. I used to be fairly certain we may do it.
“It is a large second, after all, if you happen to can improve the championship lead by seven or eight factors, it’s unbelievable, so there’s nothing so as to add to that.
“It’s a nice weekend for the crew and I am so blissful as effectively to see Dani and Ott on the rostrum with me and, it is a good step for each championships.”
The Energy Stage outlined the brutal nature of this yr’s Acropolis Rally as Takamoto Katsuta, Tanak and Ogier – earlier than his crash – all suffered punctures.
“It’s been a really arduous [rally] and truthfully talking at this time’s Energy Stage should not be the final stage of the rally. It is destroying the automobiles. It’s not a stage to be trustworthy,” added Neuville.
“We’ve got mentioned it already up to now. It is getting repaired yearly and it is getting worse and worse and it has been a no-go this time.”
