Thierry Neuville’s bid for his maiden World Rally Championship title nearly slipped away last weekend during the Central European Rally, as a dramatic off-road moment on Austria’s Schärdinger Innviertel stage almost derailed his season-long campaign.
Neuville, who has led the standings since his season-opening victory at Monte Carlo, faced a heart-stopping situation on the slippery Austrian roads. After an early slow-speed spin, Neuville misjudged a left-hand corner, sending his Hyundai i20 N off the track and into a roadside field. With wet grass and a drainage ditch threatening to trap him, Neuville narrowly avoided disaster, managing to rejoin the road after losing around 30 seconds.
“I knew we would get out at some point, whether we needed spectators or not,” Neuville calmly recalled, showing his composed mindset despite the close call. His ability to recover and limit the damage meant his championship dream remained intact, though it was put on hold for another month.
Adding to the drama, Neuville’s closest rival, Sébastien Ogier, crashed the following morning, eliminating himself from the drivers’ title fight. Meanwhile, Ott Tänak, Neuville’s teammate, could only shave off four points from Neuville’s pre-event 29-point advantage, leaving the Belgian in a commanding position heading into the final round in Japan.
Reflecting on the weekend, Neuville remained unfazed by the pressure, knowing that he still holds a 25-point lead with one event remaining. “We don’t necessarily need to secure the title this weekend,” he said confidently before the rally. “I would be happy to go into Japan with a comfortable lead.”
Neuville’s calm demeanor throughout the rally demonstrated his maturity and experience, crucial traits as he inches closer to his long-awaited world title. Despite two mistakes on the Austrian asphalt, Neuville’s ability to stay composed and avoid major damage highlighted his champion’s mindset.
“We knew it was impossible to take the title here this weekend,” Neuville reflected after the rally. “But we targeted some extra points, and we were able to take some back from Ott, which I think is a good result.”
With a 25-point cushion heading into the final round in Japan, Neuville remains the odds-on favorite to finally claim his first World Rally Championship title. While a win at the Central European Rally would have been a storybook moment for Neuville, the 36-year-old is content to seal the deal in Japan.
“Of course, we would have liked to take it here,” Neuville said. “But I know the fans and my family will be just as happy if we take it in Japan.”
Although Neuville is within reach of the drivers’ championship, Hyundai still has work to do in the manufacturers’ title race, where they face stiff competition. However, with Andreas Mikkelsen, who dominated WRC2 last year, joining Neuville and Tänak for Rally Japan, the team is in a strong position to fight for both championships.
“All season long, there have been no team orders between Ott and me,” Neuville said. “But we also have Andreas as a third driver who can be strong in Japan, so everything is in good hands. We know what we have to do as a team.”
With one round left in the season, Neuville’s championship hopes are very much alive, and the final battle in Japan will determine whether he can finally claim the title that has eluded him for so long.
