How team-mate Tanak denied Neuville title on match point at WRC Central Europe
In Tennis terms the Central European Rally represented the first real match point moment for Thierry Neuville in his relentless 12-year quest to lift the World Rally Championship title. The scene was set perfectly. An asphalt rally where being first on the road is advantage, featuring stages in Germany not a million miles from his […]
How Katsuta bounced back stronger after WRC benching
Takamoto Katsuta has explained why he was able to make a strong World Rally Championship comeback at the Central European Rally after being benched. The Japanese driver rejoined the Toyota squad for the penultimate round of the season last weekend following a shock decision by the team to bench its full-time driver for last […]
If Neuville is “smart» there is «no chance» to win WRC title
Ott Tanak says if team-mate Thierry Neuville is “smart” at the Rally Japan there will be no chance for him to claim a second WRC title despite Hyundai allowing its drivers to fight. Both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles will go down to the wire in Japan next month after last weekend’s dramatic Central European Rally. […]
Ogier needs «reset” after costly WRC Central Europe exit
Sebastien Ogier says he needs a “reset” after a third consecutive incident cost Toyota valuable points in its bid to defend the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title. The eight-time world champion was in the box seat to deliver a fourth victory from his partial campaign at the Central European Rally, having ended Saturday with 18 […]
Tanak assumes lead after Ogier error, Pajari rolls
A rare mistake from Sebastien Ogier has handed the Central European Rally lead to Hyundai’s Ott Tanak while World Rally Championship Rally1 rookie Sami Pajari rolled on Sunday morning. Ogier started the final day of the rally with a 5.2s margin over Tanak but a lock up approaching a left-hander at the start of a […]
WRC manufacturers’ title priority despite drivers’ points swing
Ott Tanak says helping Hyundai win the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title remains his priority despite provisionally reducing team-mate Thierry Neuville’s drivers’ points lead at the Central European Rally. Tanak headed into the WRC’s penultimate round 29 points adrift of Neuville, knowing his team-mate could claim a maiden world title if he outscored him by […]
Ogier responds to Tanak pace to extend advantage
Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier will take a slender lead over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak as 14s separated the top three heading into the final four stages of the Central European Rally. The eight-time world champion won two of the three afternoon asphalt stages to extend his advantage over Tanak to 5.2s, with Toyota’s Elfyn Evans in third […]
Neuville explains costly WRC Central Europe off-road excursions
Thierry Neuville has explained his two off-track excursions that cost the World Rally Championship title favourite the lead at the Central European Rally. The Hyundai driver started Saturday with a 6.4s lead over Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier before two spins on stage 11 dropped him to fourth, behind rivals Ogier, Ott Tanak and Elfyn Evans, 33.6s […]
Neuville mistakes hand Ogier the lead
World Rally Championship title favourite Thierry Neuville went off the road in stage 11 twice to hand Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier the lead at the Central European Rally. The Hyundai driver’s lead came under pressure on Saturday morning from team-mate Ott Tanak before Neuville relieved the pressure. However, two mistakes in the final stage of the […]