Thierry Neuville has achieved an emotional victory at the Rally of Portugal, considering it a “revenge” for a mistake made in the last stage of the Rally of Croatia, which cost Hyundai their first victory in the World Rally Championship of 2026.
After an intense weekend, Neuville, the world champion of 2024, faced a similar situation to what he experienced in Croatia, leading before the final stage. In Portugal, the driver took advantage of an opportunity when Sebastien Ogier, from Toyota, suffered a puncture that made him lose the lead.
Unlike what happened in Croatia, Neuville and his co-driver, Martijn Wydaeghe, successfully completed the final stage, thus achieving Hyundai’s first victory since the last race of last season in Saudi Arabia, held in November.
With this victory, Neuville adds his 23rd triumph in the WRC, equaling four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen. The emotion was palpable as he crossed the finish line, reflecting on the difficulties he faced in Croatia. “This victory is much more than personal compensation; it is crucial for the team, which really needed it,” Neuville stated.
The Belgian driver emphasized the importance of his performance throughout the weekend, noting that confirming that the performance met their expectations was encouraging. “To win in rallies, you need to be able to manage your race well and trust your car,” he added.
Wydaeghe agreed with Neuville, emphasizing that the victory is significant not just for them but for the entire team that has worked hard. After a difficult moment like in Croatia, the team has shown their mentality of not giving up and returned stronger than ever.
With the i20 N Evo Rally1, which now runs better, Neuville acknowledges that confidence was lacking. Now, with the victory in Portugal, Neuville has reaffirmed the need to keep believing and working hard to achieve more success.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
