Neuville secured his first World Rally Championship title in the season’s final event when his only challenger, teammate Ott Tänak, crashed out on Sunday morning.
However, Neuville’s championship path had been in the making long before. He won the season opener at Rallye Monte Carlo in January and mastered the new points system better than anyone throughout the year.
Neuville brilliantly understood that in the new system, outright victories weren’t as crucial. The key was to consistently collect solid points throughout the season and stay on the road. In this, Neuville excelled perfectly. The 36-year-old Belgian didn’t register a single zero-point rally all season.
Neuville had waited a long time for this crowning achievement. He first finished runner-up in the championship back in 2013. The title was particularly close in 2018, only to slip away in the final moments.
Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul closely observed Neuville’s championship journey and is well-placed to explain how Neuville finally grew into a world champion.
“It’s difficult to pinpoint just one thing. As always, I think it’s a mix of feelings. The team is coming together, and he’s maybe more focused on this goal. We’re a bit more demanding in everything. We also had a few new people join the team over the winter, which I believe helped,” Abiteboul reflected.
“It’s not just in what we deliver to him, but also in the confidence that we’re all on the same mission as him. It’s provided a bit of stability and planning in our execution,” he added.
Abiteboul’s own role cannot be overstated. The Frenchman, with his wealth of experience, has also served as a team principal in Formula 1.
“Something that Hyundai probably hasn’t been very good at in the past is planning ahead, and that’s something I’ve really tried to bring myself,” Abiteboul explained.
“If we want to execute well, we need to plan well. We’ve been planning lots of the things we’ve done this year, and we already have plans in place for next year. I think that’s not only helping with execution but also boosting everyone’s confidence. When people know what they’re doing and can adhere to and stick to the plan, it builds certainty,” he concluded.
