HYUNDAI: NEUVILLE’S DRIVE‘ SPECIAL’

Nan dan credits belgian’ s rally italy drive

Hyundai team principal Michel Nandan has heralded Thierry Neuville’s Rally Italy performance as the best he has seen in his time in the championship.

Nandan – who has guided Peugeot (2000s) and Toyota (1990s) to success in the World Rally Championship – admitted he was stunned by what he saw from the series leader.

“This was special,” said Nandan. “Really, this one is the best. To have it decided in the last stage like it was and to win like this, in a proper way is fantastic. I am really happy for the team and for him.”

Nandan added that the closeness of the fight, Neuville won by 0.7s, highlights the success of the championship. He said: “Last year was good, but this season is even better – this event shows the championship is really open and how close the competition is.”

Neuville was pretty chuffed with his third win of the season – a success which carries him into a 27-point advantage at the top of the table.

“I can’t believe it,” Neuville told MN. “Winning against Sebastien is one of the hardest things and the way we did this one was so tough. We gave this absolutely everything and to come away with a victory like this… this is really precious for me and Nico [Gilsoul, co-driver].”

Neuville’s former team principal, M-sport’s Malcolm Wilson, praised both the Belgian and his own driver Ogier.

“They’ve both been superb,” said Wilson. “I think we lost the rally on Saturday when Seb dropped that time in one stage and then stalled on the line in the next stage. But OK, this one’s been absolutely unforgettable. Rally fans will remember this one for a lifetime – to have two guys pushing so hard and so close is something very special.

“I’ve always known this was in Thierry; don’t forget when he was with us five years ago he was second on virtually every event in the second half of the season and he finished second to Seb in the championship. It’s taken him five years, but he’s got one over the champion today. But don’t worry, we’ll be back.”

Ogier is now 27 points behind Neuville, and has never been this far behind at the halfway point of a season where he has gone on to win the title. Ogier underlined the importance of finishing in Sardinia.

“I wasn’t prepared to risk everything like he was,” he said. “If I made no points here then the championship would have looked very tough.

“We could see [the Hyundai] was working well in the rough sections, so we still have some work to do, but this is halfway in the championship. This gives me something to aim for in the second half of the year.”