Thierry Neuville won the Rally Spain, penultimate round of the WRC 2021 World Championship. For the rider Hyundai, already triumphant in front of the home crowd in the Ypres Rally, is the second success of the season, the fifteenth of his career.
Strong of a clear advantage over Elfyn Evans, in the four Sunday specials Neuville limited himself to controlling the race, winning the third 2021 rally for a Hyundai team car with 24 ″ 1 ahead of the Welshman. It was to take the scene this morning Dani Sordo, who won all four special stages and gained a place on the podium, albeit 35 ″ 3 behind. Fourth place for a disappointed one Sebastien Ogier, who paid 42 ″ 1 late from the summit.
The confrontation between Sordo and Ogier it was largely decided yesterday evening. The Frenchman in fact closed the PS13 of Salou with the 16th time at 6 ″ 5 from Neuville and 5 ″ 7 from Sordo after having stalled the engine of his Yaris. Nullifying, in a hairpin bend, all the work done in the afternoon to secure the third step of the podium.
This morning, Deaf immediately canceled the second and two tenths of delay from Toyota # 1, winning the PS14 of Santa Marina (9.10 km) with 0 ″ 7 on Neuville, 1 ″ 4 on Evans and 1 ″ 7 on Ogier. The Spaniard then repeated himself in the PS15 (Riudecanyes, 16.35 km), won by two tenths on Neuville and 1 ″ 1 on Ogier, and in PS16 (9.10 km), ahead of the direct opponent by seven tenths. The conclusive power stage of 16.35 km did not reverse the trend of the morning. Sordo dominated the test, leaving Ogier at 4 ″ 5 and thus winning the third step of the podium. Extra points also for Neuville (+1 ″ 4), Evans (+4 ″ 1) and Rovanpera (+6 ″ 8).
In fifth place, and never in the game, Kalle Rovanpera, on the third Toyota. Sixth Gus Greensmith about Ford; seventh Oliver Solberg on Hyundai, which preceded rookie Nil Solans. World championship points for Eric too Camilli, winner of Wrc2 on Citroen C3, which preceded Nikolay’s Skoda Fabia Evo Gryazin.
Today’s result keeps both leagues open. Between Pilots, Ogier climbed to 204 but he lost another seven lengths of his lead over Evans, which is now chasing at altitude 187 points. Third Neuville at 159. Among the Builders, Toyota were only five points away from securing the title: the Japanese manufacturer leads the standings with 474 points, while Hyundai has risen to 427 points.
Like a year ago, the World Cup will be decided like this during the Monza Rally, scheduled from 18 to 21 November. Once again an itinerary with two faces, with special stages inside the Brianza racetrack and on the roads of the Bergamo mountains.
Rally Spain 2021 | Final ranking
Pos. | Pilot | Car | Time / Gap |
1 | T. NEUVILLE | Hyundai | 2: 01: 22.1 |
2 | E. EVANS | Toyota | +24.1 |
3 | D. DEAF | Hyundai | +35.3 |
4 | S. OGIER | Toyota | +42.1 |
5 | K. ROVANPERÄ | Toyota | +1: 31.8 |
6 | G. GREENSMITH | Ford | +4: 17.3 |
7 | O. SOLBERG | Hyundai | +4: 26.7 |
8 | N. SOLANS | Hyundai | +4: 34.9 |
9 | E. CAMILLI | Citroen (Wrc2) | +9: 49.4 |
10 | N. GRYAZIN | Skoda (Wrc2) | +10: 05.9 |