Thierry Neuville: “My car was perfect all weekend”

They were said to be in poor form at the start of the 2019 World Rally Championship season, but in the space of two rounds, Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai) showed all their talent. The Belgians won the arduous Tour de Corse in quick succession and Rally from Argentina, and are now 10 units ahead of Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia (Citroën).

“My car was perfect throughout the weekend, is satisfied Thierry Neuville. J’ai senti que nous avions fait des progrès par rapport à l’an dernier. Je me suis senti 100% à l’aise dans la Hyundai i20 coupe WRC, I was able to control, and that was the key to success, because Argentina is a very difficult rally. »

In extremely tricky weather conditions, the outgoing vice-champion stayed the course. “The weather changed considerably throughout the weekend, and you can only perform well if you feel confident”, he says. 

Here are two (very, very) happy boys#WRC #RallyArgentina #VICTORIA #HMSGOfficial #TN #NG pic.twitter.com/7ryDCEEEBU

— Thierry Neuville (@thierryneuville) April 28th

While all his rivals made mistakes or lost time in the mud, Thierry Neuville continued his journey without any problems.pine. “Our car is very reliable and solid on rough tracks. Since Hyundai returned to WRC (In 2014), this has always been the case », specifies the one who becomes a double winner in Argentina. 

His co-pilot Nicolas Gilsoul completes Hyundai's success by recalling the work of the shadows. “We were aware, even before the reconnaissance, that the weather would be capricious. I think we anticipated the weather well by preparing different strategies. 

All together, the meteorologists, the forecasters and the team, we were able to react stage after stage, adjust the car settings, etc. » The next round will be unprecedented, since Chile had never appeared on the World Cup calendar until 2019.

#WRC Thank you @rallyargentina, see you next year! #HMSGOfficial pic.twitter.com/DkxPRbHuiq

— Hyundai Motorsport (@HMSGOfficial) April 28th

“When I check the roadbook or the map, I can close my eyes and find my way, continues Nicolas Gilsoul. In Chile we will have to discover everything. » “I only know a few things. I know where Chile is located, where the plane will drop me off, but other than that, no info”, recognizes Thierry Neuville.

Discover the analysis of the Rally Argentina carried out by our special correspondent in issue 2214 of AUTOhebdo, available from Monday evening in digital version on all platforms, and from this Wednesday on newsstands.