In the face of significant criticism, World Rally Championship standings leader Thierry Neuville has spoken out in favour of the change to the series’ points system.
Points are being paid out at the end of the penultimate day for the first time in history, with final-day bonus points also available. The Belgian picked up every point available on the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally, where the new system made little difference. In Sweden last month, Neuville’s title rival Elfyn Evans made the most of the revised structure to pick up 24 of 30 points – five more than overall event winner Esapekka Lappi.
At the time, Evans admitted: “I still don’t think it’s right. EP won and he has a load less points than I do. Whatever the circumstances, I don’t think that’s right.”
The Hyundai driver accepted the system wasn’t without its flaws, saying: “It’s hard to follow, but I think the main goal of the point system was to make the Sunday interesting again. And I think it succeeded.
The Hyundai driver thinks the new points system is doing its job
“Sunday is more interesting again and everybody has to go drive fast on Sunday. And we, as a competitor, we can feel it as well. The Sunday stress is much higher than in previous years because you know that every single stage counts.
“On Saturday you need to take what you can, but Sunday…I mean, for me, I took nearly the same amount of points on Sunday, two less [in Sweden]. I took eight on Sunday, I took only 10 on Friday–Saturday. And on Friday–Saturday, in the position I was, I couldn’t do more than what I did. So that’s why the Sunday is really interesting for us now, that’s for sure.”
Both the FIA and WRC Promoter have confirmed they will monitor the new system through this season, with an evolution of the plan possible if it’s felt to be too confusing or unfair.
