It’s not just you and I that are delighted to see Sébastiens Loeb and Ogier back in the World Rally Championship in Portugal this week, Thierry Neuville’s right there with us.
The Hyundai driver sits second in the standings after the first three rounds of the year, but he knows narrowing the 29-point gap to Kalle Rovanperä will be tough. Even tougher with his French friends.
But Neuville is hoping Ogier and Loeb will find their rhythm quickly enough to challenge at the sharp end of the field in Matosinhos. How sharp? Naturally, he doesn’t want to lose to them, but anything they can do to get between him and his championship rivals would be very welcome.
He said: “It is good to have them back. Looking forward they can be a help for me for the championship and take some big points, especially Sébastien Ogier who has a better start position [than Loeb].
“He will be fighting with Dani [Sordo] and Elfyn [Evans] for a top position here this weekend.
“It’s nice to see them [Loeb and Ogier]. It is good for the sport. It should always be like this. It is more fun.”
Talking about his own hopes for a second Portuguese victory, following his 2018 win, Neuville wasn’t exactly brimming with confidence after a tough start to the hybrid era for Hyundai. His position of second on the road through what’s predicted to be a super-loose Friday was further cause for concern.
“To be honest, I think to finish on the podium will be tough,” he said. “Somehow we always keep believing. The rally is long and we need to set our goals and try to give the maximum from the beginning.
“A podium would be a good result to be honest, especially to be ahead of Kalle [Rovanperä] and Craig [Breen]. I think it is going to be tough and hard to be in the top five. We are going do our best and we will see where we end up at the end of the weekend.
“I want to come away with some points. I am looking forward to it.”
