WRC – Neuville joins the big boys at Rally Germany

Thierry Neuville had, however, started badly Rally from Germany since it rolled over during shakedown. Three days later, the pilot Hyundai celebrates his first victory in WRC taking advantage of a final stage full of twists and turns with the retirement of Jari-Matti Latvala and Kris Meeke. The vice-world champion becomes the first Belgian since François Duval at the 2006 Rally Australia to establish himself at the world level of rallying. The winner takes his revenge on Dani Sordo who beat him last year when the Spaniard drove for Citroën, but the Hispanic driver is still delighted to offer a double for the Korean manufacturer's first WRC success.

Andreas Mikkelsen consoles Volkswagen by placing a Polo R WRC on the podium. But the setback is hard for the Wolfsburg team, undefeated in the last 12 events, which fails to win on home soil when a victory was still within its reach. But the result is also tough for Citroën, which missed a golden opportunity to extend its invincibility in Germany since the arrival of the WRC event in 2002. On the other hand, M-Sport took advantage since two Fords are in the top five. Elfyn Evans failed to overcome Andreas Mikkelsen with less than six seconds delay, but Malcolm Wilson's young recruit won his duel against Mikko Hirvonen by seven seconds, not without winning his first scratch in the Power Stage ahead of Thierry Neuville and his Finnish teammate.

Mads Ostberg only finished in sixth place, 12 seconds behind the top five, the Norwegian being aware that he still has to improve on asphalt. Martin Prokop follows in seventh position ahead of Dennis Kuipers. Bryan Bouffier was unable to see the finish of the event, the Frenchman having suffered another off-road exit in the first meters in the Power Stage.

Pontus Tidemand snatches victory in WRC2 by less than two seconds ahead of Ott Tänak. Local driver Armin Kremer completes the podium ahead of Julien Maurin who fell to fourth following a puncture in Dhrontal (SS17). Stéphane Lefebvre takes his third JWRC victory of the season with a nine-second lead over Christian Riedemann and further increases his lead in the Championship. Quentin Giordano signs his third podium in a row.

At the end of Rally Germany, there are only three title contenders left with four events remaining. If Sébastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala score no points while Andreas Mikkelsen comes back 33 units behind the Finn with his third place, Mads Ostberg is 113 units behind the Championship leader, one too many to still be in contention. Volkswagen Motorsport now has a 167-point lead over Citroën Racing, which sees Hyundai Motorsport come back just seven lengths after its first double.

The videos of the Rally Germany can be viewed on this link.