Thierry Neuville has expressed his determination to “come back stronger” after a fatal error in the final stage that cost him a nearly assured victory at the Rally Croatia. The driver of the Hyundai World Rally Team had built a lead of over a minute before the incident, which resulted in his retirement.
The 2024 world champion seemed to have control of the competition, but the situation changed drastically when he suffered an impact to the front right of his i20 N, causing significant damage to the vehicle. This error allowed Takamoto Katsuta of Toyota to achieve victory dramatically.
Visibly affected by his mistake, Neuville stated that he “will not give up” and that he is confident a better moment will come. In his words, he said: “Although this is a great disappointment, I am here to fight and I will not give up. Our time will come back.”
Hyundai had eagerly hoped to triumph to alleviate a difficult season start, where they have been relegated behind Toyota. The team’s sporting director, Andrew Wheatley, assured that they understand the pressure and stress under which the drivers work, and promised support to Neuville: “No one is more disappointed than he is. We need to achieve results to recognize the herculean effort of the team members.”
Despite the frustration, Hyundai managed to finish the race in third place thanks to Hayden Paddon, who was celebrated as a minor success by the team. Nevertheless, the victory this weekend went to Katsuta, who showed understanding towards Neuville and expressed his regret for the Belgian driver’s situation.
Katsuta, who recently won his first rally at the Safari Rally in Kenya, highlighted the importance of this victory, which has positioned him as the first Japanese driver to lead the WRC standings. The competitiveness among teams remains high, with the aim of improving in the upcoming events.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
