has admitted that he might want to take extra dangers if he needs to defeat in a Sunday showdown to win Acropolis Rally Greece.
The 2024 world champion emerged from a tense Saturday duel with a slender 4.1s margin over reigning and nine-time world champion Ogier, forward of Sunday’s last 4 tough gravel levels.
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Saturday afternoon witnessed the battle between the WRC champions intensify. Neuville delivered arguably his finest drive of the season to this point to beat Ogier by 7.1s in stage 12, which was shortened because of deteriorating highway circumstances.
Nonetheless, Ogier then issued a formidable response on the ultimate stage of the day to beat Neuville by 6.7s to scale back a ten.8s result in simply 4.1s.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Solely 84 kilometres of aggressive levels stay on Sunday, that includes a number of tough the place the puncture threat shall be excessive. Waiting for the ultimate day, Neuville believes he must up his velocity to beat Ogier, which would require taking extra dangers.
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“It has been a very long time since I’ve been that snug within the automotive in order that mainly makes the distinction,” Neuville informed Motorsport.com.
“We all know on this tough floor the Hyundai often works higher. It was an incredible drive and it was feeling very nice within the automotive.
“To this point we now have been in a position to management our velocity and now with solely 84km left we have to increase the velocity a bit and take a bit extra threat within the rougher sections if we need to win the rally. Now we have no alternative. We (myself and Ogier) each should go that approach. We’ll see if there’s a fortunate one or if the battle continues to the very finish.”
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Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Staff Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Given Hyundai and its drivers face a big deficit within the championship standings to Toyota and their drivers, settling for second may very well be seen as a wise strategy. Nonetheless within the Hyundai camp the goal is obvious.
“For the crew successful is what we would like,” Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley informed Motorsport.com. “The levels tomorrow shall be very tough and something can occur.”
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Ogier sees no cause to alter strategy
Having already skilled shedding a probable victory to a puncture at Rally Portugal this yr which handed Neuville the win, Ogier has maintained a measured threat versus reward strategy which has paid off to date.
The nine-time world champion has maintained a concentrate on himself relatively than others, an strategy he sees no cause to alter forward of Sunday’s showdown with Neuville.
Sebastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Sebastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
“My strategy is a bent to be on the secure facet as I’ve misplaced rather a lot typically with punctures,” Ogier informed Motorsport.com.
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“I actually attempt to keep out of misfortune however let’s see for tomorrow. I don’t need to change something however with such a detailed hole we now have to attempt to have a powerful consequence.
“Two thirds of the job is finished however tomorrow continues to be an enormous day forward.”
With regards to lowering dangers, Ogier led a name for organisers to shorten stage 12 to remove a bit of highway that he felt would have been too excessive for the revised Hankook laborious tyres.
Ogier was fast to reward the FIA and rally organisers for making a swift choice to take away the primary 4.5km of the Ghymno take a look at.
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“We have to thank the FIA and the organiser for taking the appropriate choice and it was undoubtedly a lot too excessive and it will have been a catastrophe with punctures in every single place. I believe we are able to thank them for being intelligent and making the appropriate alternative,” he added.
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