This weekend, the Rally Estonia will feature a new condensed event format, designed to optimize the experience for participants and reduce operational costs. Thierry Neuville, driver of the Hyundai World Rally Team, has expressed his support for this initiative, calling it a “good idea”.
The organizers have established a 50-hour schedule that does not translate into a reduction of distance, as teams will still compete in 301.8 km spread over 18 stages. However, the arrival of the drivers in the host city of Tartu will take place later this week, with most teams conducting their first reconnaissance today, ahead of the ceremonial start on Thursday.
The shakedown day has been moved to Friday morning, at which time teams will complete six stages during the afternoon, including a tire fitting zone before returning to service at 20:45.
Saturday promises to be an intense day with nine stages, including a service point at noon that will start at 10 AM. The day will close with the final stage at 20:35, while the competition will conclude on Sunday with two passes over the 24.39 km stage of Kaariku.
Neuville, who competed in a similar format at the Sardinia Rally in 2024, considers it essential to diversify race formats not only to make them more attractive but also to maintain public interest. “We need a mix of long and short routes that generate excitement,” he commented.
The Belgian driver arrives at the Rally Estonia at a favorable time, sitting in sixth place in the championship and looking to maintain his momentum after a victory in Portugal and a second place in Greece. “We have shown good pace in the recent races and are optimistic for these fast gravel roads,” he added.
For Neuville, the key to the Rally Estonia will be finding the right balance between traction, precision, and protection for the big jumps, hoping for safety turns with his car. “Our goal is clear: to fight for victory and achieve the maximum score to regain positions in the championship,” concludes Neuville.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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