Racing With a fourth place in the final powerstage has Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 Coupe) Sunday in the Rally of Corsica won, that is the fourth WRC round of the season.
For the start of the powerstage had our countryman for 11.5 seconds to make up on the Brit Elfyn Evans (Ford Fiesta WRC), on Sunday morning the leadership position just had taken of Neuville. The Briton finished after a flat tire, however, as the last in the powerstage, on almost a minute and a half of winner Kris Meeke. Neuville had enough for a fourth place to the rallyzege to secure. In the end, he has a lead of 40,3 seconds on the Frenchman Sébastien Ogier (Citroen C3 WRC), Evans must make peace with a third place in Corsica.
For the thirty years Neuville was the tenth WRC win in his career, the first of the season and his third in Corsica, after earlier wins in 2011 and 2017. In the world cup mode will take our fellow countryman, the leadership of the Est Ott Tänak. Ogier follows as second with 80 points. Ott Tänak (Toyota Yaris WRC), which sixth ended in Corsica, is third with 77 points. The fifth WRC round of the season takes place from 25 to 28 april in Argentina.
The Rally of Corsica was full of the drama. The 16 seconds, Neuville in the last stage on Saturday was won on Evans, he was after the first ride Sunday morning once again lost making the difference between the two riders again 11.5 seconds was. The final stage would decide on profit and loss, but judging from the split times it was clear that there for Neuville no fast time was. Evans put out more than a hand to the victory, but a puncture on the right front verbrodde the birthday party for the man from Wales. “I think it’s a pity for Elfyn, but it is so. Also we have to earn the victory. We have fought hard, and on Saturday, the basis of this victory laid”, said a smiling Neuville, which Corsica as a world CHAMPIONSHIP leader leaves.
The drama in Corsica began Friday morning with a busted rim and flat tire for Kris Meeke (Toyota Yaris WRC) in the opening stage of the rally. His teammates Latvala (Toyota Yaris WRC) and Tänak (Toyota Yaris WRC) would, respectively, on Friday and Saturday will also be a victim of punctures. Tänak had at the time that he was in the lead drove in the 47.18 km ride from Castagniccia his car to the side to find a wheel to swap. That way, it was a baalrally for Toyota. Also Citroen had no reason to be a dance of joy. World champion Ogier failed to get one fastest time to drive.
Ford and Hyundai were the competitiefste brands with Evans and Neuville as exponents. Both riders made for an exciting final day with a dramatic and unexpected twist in the very end of the match. In 2017, beating Neuville by 0.7 seconds to Evans in the Rally of Argentina. In Corsica the difference a flat tire.
Neuville: “Fantastic result in incredible rally”
“This was an amazing rally in which we a fantastic result”, marvels Thierry Neuville. “I think also to Elfyn and corijder Scott. This must be incredibly acidic for them. I feel with them. We have a great battle and they were undeniably faster than we do. We were not aware and did not know what was happening, until we have our mechanics saw.”
“In the powerstage are we really fully gone. The points that we are here this weekend to score are very important for the championship. It is the result of the work of everyone within the team. We may not be the fastest, but there is a significant improvement on asphalt. This victory is the most beautiful gift for everyone who worked so hard. Saturday afternoon we start attacking and we have laid the foundations for this victory. It is never done until it is completely over.”