Neuville one day from victory in Japan: “It looks difficult if it rains tomorrow”

Neuville, le trouble-fête. Sur les terres de Toyota, le pilote belge a pris les commandes du Rally du Japon samedi à l’issue de la 2e étape de l’épreuve. La Hyundai a pris le meilleur sur la Toyota d’Elfyn Evans, en difficulté sur les dernières spéciales de la journée.

The French-speaking rider gradually picked up the pace to take the lead in the Japanese round, 4 seconds ahead of the Welshman. “ The goal was to be in contact with Elfyn [Evans] at the end of the day and keep Rovanperä behind me. Very early this morning, Rovanperä was left out of the fight for victory and we focused only on the fight with Elfyn, confided Thierry Neuville at the end of this 2nd day of rallying. He had a good first loop this morning. We were looking for better balance on the car. It was better this afternoon and we made a good choice of tires by taking a soft one for the last special. We were able to widen the gap. »

« Ending the season with a victory would be great” hopes Neuville

Confident with his Hyundai i20, Thierry Neuville will benefit from a favorable starting position on Sunday for the last loops of the season. If the Belgian is in an ideal position for victory, the weather could decide otherwise. Precipitation is expected late in the morning and early in the afternoon in the Nagoya region. Rainy conditions which could trap the Hyundai driver. “ This is obviously going to be difficult if it rains tomorrow, but it’s already complicated from the start! If the rain is here, it will make things a little more exciting. Ending the season with a victory would obviously be great. »

Thierry Neuville is aiming for a second victory this season, after his success on the Acropolis Rally. Elfyn Evans is for the moment his only serious competitor for the Rally of Japan, sinceOtt Tänak, 3rd, is relegated to 40 seconds.

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