Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville gets a dream opportunity to secure the first World Rally Championship of his career this weekend in Japan. Belgian Neuville starts the season finale with a 25-point lead over his Estonian teammate Ott Tänak.
Sixth place in the long race, which ends already on Saturday, would be enough for the Hyundai star. It is already certain that Hyundai will achieve the first drivers’ championship in its history. Neuville, on the other hand, would be the first Belgian to achieve the trick.
– The goal is only to secure the championship, but of course to support the team’s fight in the manufacturer’s series. We have done good and steady work all year. Now we just have to get the job done, Neuville emphasizes.
So it can be assumed that Neuville will start driving in Japan to make sure.
– Neuville is crazy if he starts driving at the risk limit in that situation. He is definitely aiming for a top five performance. If other drivers get in between, it will help us, Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala predicts.
Hyundai or Toyota for brand champion?
In the brand championship, Hyundai has a 15-point lead over Jari-Matti Latvala’s Toyota. A promotion to the championship in the home race would be a big deal for Toyota.
– Now it’s really a case. The situation is very different from what it has been in previous seasons, when I have been team manager, because we are chasers. The brand championship is still within reach, but it requires a pretty perfect weekend, Latvala emphasizes.
Sami Pajari is chasing the WRC2 championship
Toyota’s Sami Pajari is aiming for the WRC2 class championship in Japan. Pajari celebrates the championship if he drives to win the class or to second place.
Before Japan, Oliver Solberg is at the top of WRC2 and Yohan Rossel is 12 points away in second place. Neither of them is participating in the final competition of the season. Pajari is third, 15 points away from Solberg.
Urheilu – STT Urheilu