HYUNDAI MOTORSPORT
Thierry Neuville
Nationality: Belgian
Age: 31
Co-driver: Nicolas Gilsoul
Car #11
WRC debut: Spain 2009
GB starts: 7
Best GB result: 2nd (2017)
WRC starts: 108
WRC wins: 11
Rally GB’S about inconsistent grip and changeable conditions and, to get the best out of those sorts of characteristics, a driver has to be adaptable and pragmatic. Thierry Neuville grew up and cut his teeth on Belgian roads offering such challenges. Granted, that was on Tarmac, not gravel, but he’s a driver on the same wavelength as GB and he’s definitely a potential contender. And he’s 30 points down on the championship lead, so he has absolutely nothing to lose.
Craig Breen
Nationality: Irish
Age: 29
Co-driver: Paul Nagle
Car #42
WRC debut: Portugal 2009
GB starts: 8
Best GB result: 4th (2018)
WRC starts: 60
Best result: 2nd
Like Hayden Paddon, it’s utterly ridiculous to think that this bloke’s been on the bench (apart from in Finland) this season. Twelve months ago he went into Sunday just 13.5s off the lead of Rally GB. A spin in Gwydir left him fourth at the finish, but the Irishman has real potential on these stages.
The question is, will he be allowed to push? He’s wearing blue and orange in Wales and he has a job to do for Hyundai this week and might have to look after others.
Andreas Mikkelsen
Nationality: Norwegian
Age: 30
Co-driver: Anders Jaeger
Car #89
WRC debut: GB 2006
GB starts: 9
Best GB result: 3rd (2015)
WRC starts: 109
WRC wins: 3
It’s been something of a rollercoaster of a season for the likeable Norwegian, but he needs to cast being dropped for three rounds from his mind and get on with the opportunity in front of him. He was third last time out in Turkey, and a similar result in Wales would work very well for him – and Hyundai’s efforts in the manufacturers’ title race. Should we expect more from a driver who has lived on the fringes of the Clocaenog forest and knows these roads and conditions well? Probably.