As a book, it’s been a two-parter with 15 chapters, but now the story is complete: A Hyundai driver will be 2024 World Rally Champion.
Granted, we have to wait five weeks to find out if it will be Thierry Neuville or Ott Tänak who wears the crown on Sunday night in Japan, but for team principal Cyril Abiteboul, the important part is done.
“The priority of the year was very clear,” Abiteboul told DirtFish. “It was a driver championship, because that’s what’s missing in the history of Hyundai Motorsport. We have part of the story known in that a Hyundai driver will be crowned champion at the end of the year. It’s a relief because coming here, frankly, even though we were leading, it’s clear that we could very well or easily lose everything.
“I have both pride and relief. You can see that, with all the thin margins everyone is driving to or operating with, you can win or lose everything. Just look at the huge points of swing that happened in Greece, it happened also a bit in Chile, it happened here again. You see that lots can be at stake. So once something is already secured in the bank, then you can focus on the rest.”
Abiteboul is a man who likes to plan. And so far, that plan is progressing as intended – both for him and Theirry Neuville
In terms of the direction of the drivers’ title, the advantage sits very much with Neuville, who takes a 25-point lead to next month’s Rally Japan. The Belgian, who has topped the drivers’ standings from the start of the season, said his plan was a simple one.
“We will prepare our race, as always, and maybe even a bit more,” said Neuville. “We make sure that we have a decent race without, obviously, risking everything – that’s pretty sure. Then we’re going to see.”
“I have both pride and relief. You can see that, with all the thin margins everyone is driving to or operating with, you can win or lose everything. Just look at the huge points of swing that happened in Greece, it happened also a bit in Chile, it happened here again. You see that lots can be at stake. So once something is already secured in the bank, then you can focus on the rest.”
In terms of the direction of the drivers’ title, the advantage sits very much with Neuville, who takes a 25-point lead to next month’s Rally Japan. The Belgian, who has topped the drivers’ standings from the start of the season, said his plan was a simple one.
“We will prepare our race, as always, and maybe even a bit more,” said Neuville. “We make sure that we have a decent race without, obviously, risking everything – that’s pretty sure. Then we’re going to see.”
