Thierry Neuville has suggested he might retire from the World Rally Championship after this season, suggesting question marks over the series’ future have him considering his future.
The 35-year-old is currently in his 13th consecutive season as a driver at the top level of rallying and has finished as championship runner-up on five different occasions: four of those were with his current team, Hyundai.
According to quotes reported elsewhere in the media, Neuville indicated 2024 might be his last season in the WRC: “This could be my last year in WRC, so I’ll give it my all once again to try and secure it,” said Neuville.
“I feel the tool is there, so we’re going to give everything to achieve it, especially if I’m stopping afterward. It’d be great to leave with a title.”
Neuville leads the WRC standings after two rounds of the 2024 season
Neuville has often been outspoken about the state of the world championship; in the lead-up to the introduction of Rally1 cars, he suggested that “nobody [had] the balls” to challenge the FIA on its Rally1 regulations.
Recent revelations from the FIA’s WRC working group about its roadmap for the future of top-level rallying have clearly been at the front of Neuville’s mind. Though hybrid units will now disappear from Rally1 cars for next season, Neuville suggested he was still concerned about what the future may bring for the WRC – and this might affect what he chooses to do next year.
“A lot has happened in recent weeks,” he said. “Nothing is clear today. What’s happened can make me reconsider my desires, but also the opportunities.”
Neuville current leads the drivers’ championship by three points from Toyota’s Elfyn Evans after two rounds.
