Tue 17 Sep 2024

Strategy over Speed: How Neuville tamed Greece

FIA World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville has explained the strategy which helped him build his top of the table advantage with victory across one of the most arduous EKO Acropolis Rally Greece’s in recent history.

The Hyundai driver initially ran sixth on the opening day, but moved to the front of the field on the Saturday stages around Lamia, helped by early leader Sébastien Ogier suffering a turbocharger fault and his Hyundai i20 N team-mates Ott Tänak and Dani Sordo both taking tyre damage.

Neuville's only issue was an intermittent engine misfire on the opening morning, with the Belgian saying his strategy had been key to what was just his second win of the season after January's Rallye Monte-Carlo.

“It was a crazy weekend,” admitted Neuville. “It was unbelievable. From the recce, I was concerned about the roughness of the rally. I knew that we needed a different approach than some of the other drivers to try to keep the advantage we have in the championship for the remaining rounds.

“That objective and target has been the best, and paid off with victory and a good team result as well. We were not driving on the limit all weekend long to avoid any punctures and moments, and we kept all four wheels on the road.

“Now we have a good lead, the story will be to protect those points in the last three rounds.”

And part of that work to protect that lead begins with an entry on the Rally Ciudad de Granada this weekend. The Spanish gravel round will offer a further test ahead of Rally Chile Bio Bío, round 11 of the WRC which takes place later this month.

Europe
Starts: Thursday, October 17, 2024 at 8:00:00 AM
Poland
Starts: Friday, October 11, 2024 at 9:30:00 AM
Turkey
Starts: Saturday, November 9, 2024 at 5:00:00 AM