Belgian Hyundai wins for the 2nd time in the Principality and “takes the lead” in the fight for the title in the 52nd edition of the World Rally Championship
Belgian Thierry Neuville, with compatriot Martin Wydaeghe as navigator in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1, won the 92nd edition of Monte Carlo, the opening rally of the 52nd season of the World Championship (WRC). It is the 2nd victory of the 35-year-old driver in the Principality and the 20th of his career in the competition.
In this Monte Carlo, Neuville had an exciting “mano a mano” with Sébastien Ogier, in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. This 40-year-old Frenchman competes in the World Championship only part-time and holds eight titles in the WRC, just one less than Sébastien Loeb, and a record of nine victories in the rally organized for the first time in 1911. In the end, after 17 special stages (SS) and 324.44 km against the clock, the Belgian prevailed by 16.1 seconds and scored the maximum of 30 points, combining the 1st position at the end of the stage that ended on Saturday (18 points) with the 1st place on Sunday (7), and also the fastest time in the Power Stage (5).
This combination of results puts Neuville in the championship lead with 13 stages – the next one will take place in Sweden from February 15th to 18th, and Portugal will host the 5th round of the championship between May 9th and 12th. In Monte Carlo, in 3rd position, 45.2 seconds behind Neuville, Welshman Elfyn Evans finished, “in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
