COLIN CLARK
“You have to be psychic to predict this year’s champion”
These boys aren’t making it easy for us so-called rally experts. Anyone who says they know for sure who is going to win this year’s drivers’ title is lying. Or a psychic. I change my mind at the end of each stage. Before Rally of Portugal, I was still 95 per cent certain Ogier was the man to make it six in a row. After shakedown and the opening street stage, Tanak looked like the man. And then, by the end of the rally… well, I always said Neuville was champion in waiting, didn’t I? Oh dear, I’m putting my hands up and admitting I really don’t have a clue who’ll we’ll be crowning come Rally Australia in November!
But there were some pointers and areas that I can perhaps highlight to try and salvage some professional integrity from this one.
Firstly, let’s look at Neuville. Last time he was presented with the open goal of Ogier crashing out early in Finland last year. Thierry stuttererd, stumbled, sliced his shot and threatened the corner flag more than the back of the net. That capitulation was the start of the end of his championship challenge in 2017.
This time around, he well and truly buried the ball and practically broke the back of the net. Twenty-nine points to Ogier’s zero; the young Belgian has hit top gear and is making a break for it.
And we can’t write off Tanak. He looks more confident and self-assured than ever. The car is without doubt quick enough for him to realistically challenge for this year’s title. There are however a couple of lingering questions. Reliability has to be one. Latvala’s Toyota broke on a rock most other cars hit and dealt with.
The other has to be judgement: Ott had time to see those car-breaking rocks and take avoiding action. He has said he chose to go over them. In retrospect, a very costly and bad decision. But Tanak will bounce back and I can see him winning three, maybe even four rallies before the end of the year.
And what about Ogier? Well, for once, I’m just not sure. He’ll still be the most intelligent of challengers for the remainder of the season. But will that be enough? I think the champ might have to reassess his approach for the second half of the season if he is to make it six in a row this season.
Having said all that, it could be seven other drivers who genuinely decide the destination of this year’s drivers’ title. I firmly believe whichever of our top three drivers gets the most consistent support from their wing men will celebrate the hardest in November. Elfyn Evans and Teemu Suninen stepped up to the mark in Portugal, but for Ogier to win they need to both find a little more.
At Hyundai, Andreas Mikkelsen, Dani Sordo and Hayden Paddon all look capable of supporting Neuville’s efforts.
But if, as I believe, Tanak has been given number one status and can count on the support of Esapekka Lappi and Jari-matti Latvala, then maybe the young Estonian is in pole position to break the French stranglehold on the WRC drivers’ championship.
So many ifs, buts and maybes – none of us really know who’s going to win. And that’s what makes this year’s WRC so unpredictable and utterly captivating.