At the Safari Rally Kenya, Thierry Neuville faced a setback when his i20 N encountered a fuel system issue, dashing his hopes of clinching a podium finish. This problem caused him to lose over 10 minutes, plummeting from second place to fifth overall. Initially, Neuville didn’t attribute the issue to the rally’s distinctive conditions, but it significantly impacted his performance and standings in the championship, where he led Elfyn Evans by six points.
Hyundai’s team principal, Cyril Abiteboul, reassured that the team has analyzed and comprehended the problem, implementing changes ahead of the upcoming Croatia rally, which features asphalt stages.
Abiteboul expressed confidence in addressing Neuville’s issues from Kenya, aiming to provide him with a reliable car for the competition. While the exact cause of the fuel system problem remains somewhat unclear, Hyundai has taken preventive measures and devised contingency plans to avoid its recurrence.
Neuville, who won the previous WRC round on asphalt in Monte Carlo, believes his i20 N has undergone improvements since his last year’s performance in Croatia, where he crashed out of the lead.
Nonetheless, he acknowledges Toyota’s formidable track record on Croatia’s challenging stages, having remained undefeated since the event joined the WRC schedule in 2021. Neuville is optimistic about Hyundai’s progress but recognizes the stiff competition posed by Toyota on demanding tarmac stages.
In tribute to his late teammate Craig Breen, Neuville will drive one of three i20 Ns featuring a special livery at the Croatia rally. Reflecting on last year’s performance, Neuville acknowledges the team’s strength but emphasizes the need for further improvements to match Toyota’s dominance.
Despite being third fastest in Thursday’s shakedown behind Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier and Evans, Neuville remains cautiously optimistic about his prospects in the upcoming competition.
Meanwhile, Neuville’s teammate Ott Tanak emphasizes the importance of delivering a solid performance to reignite his championship aspirations. Tanak, the 2019 world champion, has faced a lackluster start to the season, failing to secure a podium finish in the opening three rounds and trailing Neuville by 34 points. While feeling the pressure, Tanak remains confident in his abilities and the team’s potential, aiming to make the right decisions to achieve competitive results in Croatia.
