Thierry Neuville: “An intelligent approach”

In one Rally of Portugal to elimination, with the road exits of Sébastien Ogier (M-Sport Ford), Kris Meeke (Citroën), or the clan's mechanical problems Toyota with Ott Tänak and Jari-Matti Latvala is Hyundai Motorsport and Thierry Neuville who carried out the good operation of the weekend.

Winner with the four bonus points won in the Power Stage, the Belgian also takes control of the championship with a lead of 19 points. Consistent since the start of the season, with points scored in each event despite a lackluster Monte-Carlo and a complicated Mexican round, the Belgian highlights his strategy observed on Lusitanian soil.

« We took a smart approach to this event, attacking when we could and controlling the pace when we needed to, specifies the winner. The car has been fabulous throughout the weekend, and the team has been behind us every step of the way.

I felt completely comfortable despite difficult conditions. We tried to push a little in the Power Stage, to take as many points as possible, but also without making any mistakes. »

Enough to head calmly towards the next deadline in Italy, where Neuville will open the road against his rival Sébastien Ogier. The Belgian won on the Sardinian tracks in 2016, but it is above all from Toyota that the biggest opposition could come, Ott Tänak remaining the last winner of the transalpine rally after his success with M-Sport in 2017.

Discover the full report and analysis of the Rally of Portugal, produced by our special correspondent in Matosinhos, in issue 2166 of AUTOhebdo, available this evening in digital version, and this Wednesday on newsstands.