Sébastien Ogier jumped from third to first overall on a dramatic Sunday at Croatia Rally, claiming a surprise win as Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans faced heartbreak at the weekend. After three days of neck and neck competition on spectator-packed asphalt roads around capital city Zagreb, victory looked set to be decided between Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20 N, and Welshman Evans in a Toyota … [Read more...]
Thierry Neuville wants to reverse fortunes in WRC
Points leader Thierry Neuville is in need of a change of fortunes if he is to stay ahead of Toyota Gazoo Racing rival Elfyn Evans at Croatia Rally this week, round four of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship. Neuville, who drives an i20 N Rally1 car for Hyundai Motorsport, opened his season in fine fashion by winning Rallye Monte-Carlo, but issues in Sweden and Kenya have prevented the Belgian … [Read more...]
Rovanperä clinches second WRC crown
Kalle Rovanperä has become a two-time WRC champion, clinching the title on Sunday after finishing second overall at Central European Rally with Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team. By finishing runner-up to Thierry Neuville at this penultimate round, the 23-year-old ensured he can no longer be caught in the 2023 season. Just one year ago, Rovanperä made history when he became the youngest ever … [Read more...]
Toyota 1st & 2nd on WRC Greece
Kalle Rovanperä scored his third victory of the season in Greece on Sunday afternoon to tighten his grip on this year’s FIA World Rally Championship while Welshman Elfyn Evans is close behind. The 22-year-old (above) had looked set to bring up the rear of the podium at this 10th round but found himself topping the standings by more than two minutes after Saturday’s penultimate leg when former … [Read more...]
Rain lashed Rally Italia Sardegna
Thierry Neuville vaulted from fifth to second in the FIA World Rally Championship standings on Sunday after clinching a long-awaited victory at Rally Italia Sardegna. Belgian star Neuville headed i20 N partner Esapekka Lappi by 33.0sec in a dream 1-2 finish for Hyundai at round six of 13, scoring his 18th career success alongside co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe. The result served as a maiden 2023 … [Read more...]
Italian challenge for WRC Sardinia teams
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team will take on one of the toughest challenges of the season at Rally Italia Sardegna this week and seeking to maintain their strong momentum. The team have won four out of the five World Championship events contested so far in 2023 and lead the manufacturers’ title race by 32 points. After taking his first win of the year last time out in Portugal, defending … [Read more...]
WRC championship reaches knife-edge
The battle for the manufacturers’ crown in the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship reaches a potentially decisive point in Spain this weekend as just two teams remain in contention for the crown ahead of RallyRACC – Rally de España 20 – 23 October. Toyota Gazoo Racing can seal its second title in as many years at this penultimate round. The only squad able to prevent that from happening is Hyundai … [Read more...]
Historic Hyundai victory in WRC Greece
Thierry Neuville secured victory at EKO Acropolis Rally Greece on Sunday afternoon - fronting a historic Hyundai i20 N 1-2-3 finish. The Belgian driver seized the top spot early on Saturday after nine-time world champion Sébastien Loeb retired with alternator failure. From that moment onwards he never looked back. Neuville’s Hyundai squad emerged from the penultimate day unscathed while … [Read more...]
Belgian seeks home win in WRC this weekend
Thierry Neuville is targeting his first-ever win of the FIA World Rally Championship’s hybrid era as the series returns to asphalt on his home roads at Ypres Rally Belgium 18 - 21 August. Twelve months ago the Hyundai Motorsport driver sealed an emotional win after leading since the opening day on Belgium’s WRC debut. In contrast, Neuville’s 2022 season has been marred by disappointment, with two … [Read more...]
WRC Croatia washout win for Rovanperä
Kalle Rovanperä snatched an extraordinary Croatia Rally victory on Sunday afternoon as a downpour turned the event on its head in the final kilometres of the last stage. The Finn led from the start of the three-day rally in the hills around Zagreb in his Toyota GR Yaris, only for a storm in the penultimate speed test to wipe out his hard-earned advantage. A resurgent Ott Tänak, whose gamble on … [Read more...]
