Neuville leads as Hyundai targets first win of season

Thierry Neuville’ssole focus is on bringing home a “very important” victory in Croatia for Hyundai as it bids to end Toyota’s 100% winning streak this World Rally Championship season.

Hyundai has endured a difficult start to the year, being on the end of heavy defeats to rival Toyota, who locked out the podium in Monte Carlo and Sweden. The Korean team’s upgraded i20 N has struggled to perform in low grip conditions, particularly on asphalt, which has left Neuville and his team-mates battling for confidence behind the wheel.

After picking up a second in Safari Rally Kenya last month, courtesy of Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai now has its best chance this season to date to seal a victory with Neuville taking a 1m14.5s lead into the final day in Croatia.

After such a difficult start to the season for the team and for Neuville, who previously described this year as the “hardest of time of his career”, said the objective for Sunday’s final four stages is clear, despite the lure of Super Sunday points.

“It was a crazy afternoon, difficult stages and challenging conditions but we got through,” said Neuville, whose last victory arrived in Saudi Arabia last year. “It is a shame for Taka [Katsuta] and [Sami] Pajari who were doing a good rally but [suffering punctures], that is rallying. We all know that feeling.

“We have to take that with the arms wide open and bring it home for the team tomorrow. It is very important. 

“I wouldn’t say I feel very comfortable at the moment [with the lead],” said Neuville, whose last victory arrived in Saudi Arabia last year. “I know what we need to do tomorrow. The focus is on bringing home the victory, and of course you always want more but after such a tough time I think we need to secure the victory for the team.

“Obviously the last victory was last year so if we could get a victory here would be very good for the motivation of the whole team and a boost for the rest of the season.”

Pajari’s puncture heartbreak

Sami Pajari, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Neuville’s commanding lead occurred at the expense of Toyota’s Sami Pajari, who suffered a puncture in stage 14 that cost the Finn two minutes to change a wheel.

Pajari had seemingly been on course for a breakthrough WRC win having been seemingly in control of the rally since inheriting the lead after stage three on Friday. The 24-year-old said it was hard to find positives from the day.

“It was a bit disappointing of course but a few rallies ago I was really happy to be in third position. We had some promising rallies last year like in Saudi and Kenya, but this was on another level. We have been leading the rally for more than half the length of it, so of course it is an even bigger disappointment in this way,” said Pajari.

“It was a funny moment in a way as when we finished the stage I was thinking it was all gone but then I got the information we are still in P3. What a crazy rally. 

“Of course [I can feel proud] but it doesn’t change the feeling that we didn’t win this time and we lost.”

Drivers call for anti-cut measures for ‘extreme’ stages 

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Hyundai

Pajari was among six drivers to pick up a puncture during stage 14, which ultimately turned the rally on its head.

The second pass through the Generalski Stol – Zdihovo test was declared “extreme” by drivers due to the amount of gravel and sharp rocks that had been dragged on the asphalt roads from crews taking excessive cuts on corners. The conditions meant it was a “lottery” to pass through the stage without picking up a puncture.

Several drivers believe a more thorough use of anti-cut poles should have been in place to avoid creating such a scenario by reducing where drivers could cut.

“It is luck, there is no skill in it [to avoid punctures],” said Elfyn Evans who was among the few to avoid a puncture.

“I don’t know if that stage was suitable. There were so many cut to cut corners all the time. If you put anti cut [poles] there it is a horrible rhythm as well. I think there are so many big rocks on the side and so much cutting, anti cuts would have definitely helped to at least soften the effect.”

Cutting doesn’t automatically save time

Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Oliver Solberg, who claimed multiple fastest stage times after rejoining the rally, also avoided a puncture, saying he felt the conditions were “too extreme” and could have been prevented.

“It is a gravel rally,” smiled Solberg, before adding: “I think we all had some broken rims or a puncture or whatever. You have to take all the cuts because it is full gravel but you don’t know if you will get a puncture or not and you don’t feel it either.

“One hundred percent [anti-cuts would have helped]. On a rally like this I think it is a bit too extreme and it gets dangerous with slick tyres on full gravel, you need to have a good gravel crew.”

Jon Armstrong, Shane Byrne, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Photo by: M-Sport

M-Sport-Ford’s Jon Armstrong, who did pick up a puncture, added: “I quite enjoy these conditions and, ok, the long stage on the second pass was maybe not so great with the amount of punctures. You can see there are rocks everywhere. It was to be expected and a big challenge for us, but if we keep getting punctures it is maybe not the best for the rally.

“If they put some anti-cut posts I think that would have been the right thing to do, but this year that hasn’t been so many.” 

We want to hear from you!

– The Autosport.com Team