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Thierry Neuville: From Red Spectacles to Rally King—The Journey of a Champion

Miguel Cunha by Miguel Cunha
December 4, 2024
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0
Thierry Neuville: From Red Spectacles to Rally King—The Journey of a Champion

Thierry Neuville (BEL) Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) Of team HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM celebrate on the podium after winning the FIA World Rally Drivers and Co-Drivers titles at the final round the FIA World rally Championship season during the World Rally Championship in Toyota City, Japan on 24.11.2024 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202411240310 // Usage for editorial use only //

Thierry Neuville is no ordinary rally driver. He’s a study in tenacity, resilience, and sheer determination—a man who has transformed himself from a young upstart in colorful glasses to the 2024 World Rally Champion. But his journey to the top of the motorsport world was anything but smooth, marked by heartbreak, brilliance, and a refusal to ever give up.

A Glimpse of Greatness in Red Frames

My first encounter with Thierry Neuville came in 2009. Back then, he was an unknown talent auditioning for the BF Goodrich Drivers’ Team. I wasn’t there by choice but out of obligation, tasked with assessing his media skills. Was he memorable? Not particularly. Quick? Absolutely—at least until he crashed.

That crash, however, foreshadowed a pattern in Neuville’s early career: flashes of brilliance tempered by occasional missteps. A year later, he turned heads with a stunning performance in his Junior World Rally Championship debut in Turkey, running second before a pair of red spectacles and a steely confidence told me he was something special.

Early Struggles and Breakthroughs

Neuville’s journey through the ranks wasn’t straightforward. His stint in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge delivered moments of magic, including a mature victory over rally veteran Jan Kopecký in Corsica and a nail-biting win in Sanremo. These triumphs caught the eye of Citroën boss Yves Matton, who handed him a seat in the DS3 WRC.

Neuville’s learning curve was steep, but progress was swift. By 2013, in just his second full-time season, he finished runner-up to Sébastien Ogier, scoring six podiums in the final stretch of the season. Then came another major leap—joining Hyundai.

Hyundai’s Star Driver Emerges

Neuville’s switch to Hyundai marked the start of his transformation. No longer the scrappy underdog, he embraced his role as the team’s leader. Gone were the boyband aesthetics; in their place, orange Oakleys and a Red Bull cap. Neuville wasn’t just a driver anymore—he was Hyundai’s talisman.

His first win with the team at Rallye Deutschland in 2014 was iconic, but it was also chaotic. A crash that sent his i20 tumbling through vineyards became the defining image of his season. It was a reminder that while Neuville had the speed, consistency was still elusive.

Close Calls and Setbacks

The 2017 season seemed destined to be Neuville’s crowning moment. He dominated early in Monte Carlo and Sweden, only to throw away both victories with small but costly errors. Despite his immense pace, mistakes kept him from the title.

As Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier alternated their dominance in subsequent years, Neuville was left chasing shadows, especially with Hyundai’s ill-fated 2022 car. But even as his rivals celebrated titles, Neuville never lost focus.

The Long Road to Glory

What separates Neuville from the rest isn’t just talent; it’s his perseverance. He didn’t win his 2024 title in one event but across countless battles. In Kenya, he overcame fuel pump issues to deliver a crushing Super Sunday. In Sardinia, he shrugged off a Saturday crash to dominate the final day. Time and again, Neuville proved that no setback could deter him.

Finally, in Japan, it all came together. The years of heartbreak, hard work, and relentless drive culminated in a world title. It wasn’t just a victory for Neuville—it was a testament to his character.

A Champion and a Class Act

Behind the helmet and the Oakleys is a man of depth and empathy. From honoring the late Craig Breen’s memory by supporting his close friend to always handling criticism with professionalism, Neuville has shown class both on and off the track.

Today, Thierry Neuville stands atop the rallying world—not just as a champion but as a driver who earned every accolade the hard way. To those who doubted him: he’s here, he’s the best, and he’s not going anywhere.

Keep rocking those glasses, Thierry. You’ve earned them.

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