Thierry Neuville becomes world champion in dramatic fashion – “I am speechless” | Sports in a nutshell

Thierry Neuville celebrates the world rally championship and the Toyota manufacturers’ championship. Sami Pajari won the WRC2 championship.

Belgian Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville has won the world rally championship for the first time in his career.

Neuville’s championship was secured on the final day’s opening special stage in Japan, when the team mate who drove in the lead of the rally Ott Tänak drove off the road and lost his chance at the title. The game was clear even before the last special tests.

Toyota drivers took the top spots in the final race of the World Rally Championship season. Elfyn Evans drove to an overwhelming victory and Sebastien Ogier to second place. Ogier was first on the Power Stage.

The even battle for the manufacturers’ championship culminated in Toyota’s celebration only on the Power Stage. Hyundai had to bow with a difference of three points (Toyota 561, Hyundai 558).

Jari-Matti Latvala led by Toyota already won the fourth consecutive manufacturer’s championship.

– It was definitely the worst situation in my career as a team manager to watch the last bit. I was always afraid that one of our drivers would pull out. Our season was a rollercoaster, but this proved that it’s always worth fighting until the last meter, Latvala sighed.

The eternal number two is now number one

Thierry Neuville already had time to be labeled as the eternal runner-up of the World Championship, as the man had no less than five World Championship silvers under his belt before the last rally season.

– I am super satisfied. We have been working for this for so long. We have been so close several times, Neuville reminded

Tänak’s exit, which decided the championship, confused Neuville.

– I am speechless. I didn’t expect it to happen like this. I got a call from my assistant, who never calls me in the middle of a race. I heard a lot of shouting in the background and realized what had happened.

Pajar’s WRC2 championship was sealed

Toyota driver Sami Pajari became the champion of the WRC2 class! Pajar’s championship was sealed with second place in the World Rally Championship in Japan. Nikolai Grjazin came first.

– Really comfortable and relieved feeling. I want to thank everyone involved in this, we did this together. The biggest thanks to Enni (map reader Mälkönen), Pajari described his mood.

Pajari beat Sweden in total points by Oliver Solberg in the end by three points.

The previous Finnish WRC2 champion was Emil Lindholm in the 2022 season. Pajari is the first Finn to win the junior class championship and now also the WRC2 championship.

Kovalainen out in the same place as Tänak

having driven in the WRC2 class Heikki Kovalainen taival ended with an outing on Sunday’s first special test. Kovalainen drove out in the same place as Ott Tänak.

The situation was dangerous because Kovalainen’s car ended up on top of Tänak’s car after the crash.

– Maybe I didn’t pay enough attention to the tightening of that corner and I just simply drove too hard in that corner, Kovalainen said in the broadcast of the Rally World Series.