Thierry Neuville stands on the brink of history. After over a decade of relentless pursuit, the Belgian rally star is within touching distance of his first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) title. Yet, as he heads into the season finale in Japan, the stakes couldn’t be higher—for both him and his Hyundai team.
“No Story Until Sunday”: Neuville Keeps His Cool
Despite the buzz surrounding his impending coronation, Neuville remains laser-focused on the task ahead. When pressed about the significance of this weekend, he deflected: “There’s no story. Until Sunday, there is no story.”
For Neuville, the objective is simple: score just six points, and the coveted championship is his. But the stakes are doubled—Hyundai is also locked in a fierce battle for the manufacturers’ title, with Toyota looming as a formidable threat.
“Everybody in the team is aligned on our main objective, which is the drivers’ title,” Neuville explained. “But we’ve tried all season to support the manufacturers’ title as well. I think my teammates might have a little more pressure than me on that side this weekend.”
Balancing Act: Winning the War Without Fighting the Battle
Unlike his usual aggressive style, Neuville’s approach this weekend will be uncharacteristically conservative. “Winning the rally doesn’t matter. Winning the championship does,” he admitted. His strategy is clear: maintain a steady pace, avoid risks, and react only if circumstances demand it.
“I don’t think it will feel like a normal rally for me,” Neuville said candidly. “We need to be more or less where we should be and be able to react in both ways.”
This restrained approach places the burden of Hyundai’s manufacturers’ campaign squarely on the shoulders of Ott Tänak and Andreas Mikkelsen.
Tänak Goes All-In for Hyundai
Tänak, still mathematically in the hunt for the drivers’ title, faces an uphill battle but remains determined to play his part in Hyundai’s manufacturers’ bid. “We can’t let Toyota take one, two, three,” he said bluntly. “We need to be in the mix and make sure they don’t outscore us.”
Tänak’s strategy will be the polar opposite of Neuville’s. “For the manufacturers’, it’s not just about finishing. We need to be competitive. Driving through won’t cut it.”
Mikkelsen: The Middle Ground
Mikkelsen, positioned between Neuville’s caution and Tänak’s aggression, emphasized the importance of adaptability. “Thierry will be very safe, Ott will be flat out, and I’ll be somewhere in between,” he said. Acknowledging Toyota’s strength on home soil, Mikkelsen knows the challenge ahead is immense. “It’s going to be tough, but we’re ready to fight.”
Toyota’s Uphill Climb on Home Turf
Toyota’s hopes rest on an exceptional weekend. The team needs a clean sweep of top positions across Saturday’s classification, Super Sunday, and the power stage—an outcome they achieved earlier this season in Chile.
Sébastien Ogier remains cautiously optimistic, highlighting the team’s performance despite recent struggles. “I felt so good in the car these past events, but the points don’t reflect that. This time, we need to put all the pieces together and bring the perfect result.”
Teammate Elfyn Evans, while acknowledging the slim odds, insists the pressure isn’t overwhelming. “We’re quite a long way behind. We need an exceptional weekend to take the title, but we have nothing to lose.”
A Weekend for the Ages
With so much at stake, the WRC finale promises to be a thrilling showdown. Neuville’s measured approach contrasts sharply with Tänak’s all-out assault, while Toyota fights to reclaim glory on home soil. For Neuville, Sunday could mark the culmination of years of heartbreak, near-misses, and perseverance—a crowning achievement in a storied career.
As the engines roar and the gravel flies in Japan, one thing is certain: history will be made. Whether Neuville claims his long-awaited title or Toyota delivers a home-soil masterclass, the 2024 WRC finale will be remembered as a battle of nerve, skill, and determination.
