The battle for the world title has not yet been settled, although it is only between the two Toyota drivers Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans. They finished fourth and second respectively in Spain, so that the former is still not sure of an eighth title. His British teammate has even narrowed his deficit to 17 points, so he still has a chance at a first crown. The 2021 championship has one more race, the rally of Italy in about a month. And there are still 30 points to earn.
Strong man
But the strong man in Spain was Hyundai driver Neuville. After he had the setting of his i20 adjusted on Friday afternoon, there was no longer any size on the Belgian. He won all afternoon tests and had to settle for second place only once on Saturday. He was the fastest in all other timed races.
The Belgian therefore no longer had to take any major risks on Sunday morning and saw teammate Sordo advance to third place with several fastest times and thus also keep Ogier off the podium. It looked like it was going to be an easy win for Neuville, until a technical problem just before the start of the closing Power Stage gave rise to fears of giving up.
great stress
“It caused quite a bit of stress for a while,” said the clearly nervous pilot afterwards. “Technical defects have already cost us quite a few points this year. And for a while it seemed that it would end that way again. Really, I don’t know what to say. It ruins the party a bit anyway. Anyway, we have nothing to blame ourselves.”
In that last test, Neuville still set the second fastest time with his Hyundai, which resulted in four more bonus points. In the World Cup position, he is third, albeit with a 45-point deficit that is no longer within reach.
The top six in Spain:
1. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris) at 24.1
3. Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20) at 35.3
4. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) at 42.1
5. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris) at 1:31.8
6. Gus Greensmith (Ford Fiesta) at 4:17.3
The battle for the world title has not yet been settled, although it is only between the two Toyota drivers Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans. They finished fourth and second respectively in Spain, so that the former is still not sure of an eighth title. His British teammate has even narrowed his deficit to 17 points, so he still has a chance at a first crown. The 2021 championship has one more race, the rally of Italy in about a month. And there are still 30 points to earn.
Strong man
But the strong man in Spain was Hyundai driver Neuville. After he had the setting of his i20 adjusted on Friday afternoon, there was no longer any size on the Belgian. He won all afternoon tests and had to settle for second place only once on Saturday. He was the fastest in all other timed races.
The Belgian therefore no longer had to take any major risks on Sunday morning and saw teammate Sordo advance to third place with several fastest times and thus also keep Ogier off the podium. It looked like it was going to be an easy win for Neuville, until a technical problem just before the start of the closing Power Stage gave rise to fears of giving up.
great stress
“It caused quite a bit of stress for a while,” said the clearly nervous pilot afterwards. “Technical defects have already cost us quite a few points this year. And for a while it seemed that it would end that way again. Really, I don’t know what to say. It ruins the party a bit anyway. Anyway, we have nothing to blame ourselves.”
In that last test, Neuville still set the second fastest time with his Hyundai, which resulted in four more bonus points. In the World Cup position, he is third, albeit with a 45-point deficit that is no longer within reach.
The top six in Spain:
1. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris) at 24.1
3. Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20) at 35.3
4. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) at 42.1
5. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris) at 1:31.8
6. Gus Greensmith (Ford Fiesta) at 4:17.3
The battle for the world title has not yet been settled, although it is only between the two Toyota drivers Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans. They finished fourth and second respectively in Spain, so that the former is still not sure of an eighth title. His British teammate has even narrowed his deficit to 17 points, so he still has a chance at a first crown. The 2021 championship has one more race, the rally of Italy in about a month. And there are still 30 points to earn.
Strong man
But the strong man in Spain was Hyundai driver Neuville. After he had the setting of his i20 adjusted on Friday afternoon, there was no longer any size on the Belgian. He won all afternoon tests and had to settle for second place only once on Saturday. He was the fastest in all other timed races.
The Belgian therefore no longer had to take any major risks on Sunday morning and saw teammate Sordo advance to third place with several fastest times and thus also keep Ogier off the podium. It looked like it was going to be an easy win for Neuville, until a technical problem just before the start of the closing Power Stage gave rise to fears of giving up.
great stress
“It caused quite a bit of stress for a while,” said the clearly nervous pilot afterwards. “Technical defects have already cost us quite a few points this year. And for a while it seemed that it would end that way again. Really, I don’t know what to say. It ruins the party a bit anyway. Anyway, we have nothing to blame ourselves.”
In that last test, Neuville still set the second fastest time with his Hyundai, which resulted in four more bonus points. In the World Cup position, he is third, albeit with a 45-point deficit that is no longer within reach.
The top six in Spain:
1. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris) at 24.1
3. Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20) at 35.3
4. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) at 42.1
5. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris) at 1:31.8
6. Gus Greensmith (Ford Fiesta) at 4:17.3
The battle for the world title has not yet been settled, although it is only between the two Toyota drivers Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans. They finished fourth and second respectively in Spain, so that the former is still not sure of an eighth title. His British teammate has even narrowed his deficit to 17 points, so he still has a chance at a first crown. The 2021 championship has one more race, the rally of Italy in about a month. And there are still 30 points to earn.
Strong man
But the strong man in Spain was Hyundai driver Neuville. After he had the setting of his i20 adjusted on Friday afternoon, there was no longer any size on the Belgian. He won all afternoon tests and had to settle for second place only once on Saturday. He was the fastest in all other timed races.
The Belgian therefore no longer had to take any major risks on Sunday morning and saw teammate Sordo advance to third place with several fastest times and thus also keep Ogier off the podium. It looked like it was going to be an easy win for Neuville, until a technical problem just before the start of the closing Power Stage gave rise to fears of giving up.
great stress
“It caused quite a bit of stress for a while,” said the clearly nervous pilot afterwards. “Technical defects have already cost us quite a few points this year. And for a while it seemed that it would end that way again. Really, I don’t know what to say. It ruins the party a bit anyway. Anyway, we have nothing to blame ourselves.”
In that last test, Neuville still set the second fastest time with his Hyundai, which resulted in four more bonus points. In the World Cup position, he is third, albeit with a 45-point deficit that is no longer within reach.
The top six in Spain:
1. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris) at 24.1
3. Dani Sordo (Hyundai i20) at 35.3
4. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris) at 42.1
5. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris) at 1:31.8
6. Gus Greensmith (Ford Fiesta) at 4:17.3