Neuville Chronicle: “A Sébastien Ogier-style race”

With 23 points ahead of Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford) in the general classification four rounds before the end of the 2018 World Rally Championship season (WRC),Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) took the opportunity to regain a little lead during the last rally from Germany. Finally second despite a lack of sensations, the Belgian analyzes to CARhebdo his rally.

“I was not happy to endure. I didn't appreciate not being able to win and yet, I think that's where we were stronger than Sébastien. We understood faster than him that we shouldn't try to keep in touch at all costs. We were close to the limit and I felt that if I pushed more, we were going to make a mistake.", explains the championship leader.

#DareWinCelebrate #ADACRally #WRC pic.twitter.com/9Pyz6NXbU1

— Thierry Neuville (@thierryneuville) August 19, 2018

Sébastien Ogier for his part lost a lot of time following a collision with a concrete block in the second stage, while he was fighting with Ott Tänak For victory. “Wanting to play with Tänak, I think it cost Seb dearly. »

The four-time reigning champion is, however, one of Thierry Neuville's sources of inspiration for the management of his rally. « We did a race like Sébastien Ogier last year where, in several rallies, while 6th or 7th, he finished 3rd or 4th. Both sleeves (Finland and Germany) that we have just played were not favorable to us, but the results are positive with only four points conceded. »

Thierry Neuville now looks for the Turkey rally (September 13-16). “It will be a plunge into the unknown, because we don't know much. We tried to reproduce similar conditions in tests, but it is impossible. »

>>Find Thierry Neuville's column in its entirety in issue 2180 of AUTOhebdo, on sale in digital version and on newsstands.<