Tänak made his return to Hyundai’s WRC rally team this year. With three rounds of the World Rally Championship already completed, Hyundai driver Neuville is at the top of the standings.
In contrast, Tänak is currently fourth in the series, 34 points behind his teammate. Neuville has consistently accumulated points in each event at the start of the season, while Tänak has experienced retirements in two consecutive events.
From last weekend’s Safari Rally, Neuville scooped the second-largest points haul, even though he finished only fifth overall. Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul could only praise Neuville’s fighting spirit, as the driver faced several setbacks during the event.
“We faced numerous problems. We had to find solutions on the fly and not lose motivation. Thierry’s attitude was exemplary,” Abiteboul said in an interview with Belgium’s RTBF channel.
Tänak retired in the Safari Rally on Friday after hitting a bank following an unfortunate collision with a rock. However, on the final day, Tänak showed good pace, being the fastest driver on Sunday and finishing second in the Power Stage. The Estonian still amassed 12 points for the weekend, despite having to retire once.
Despite this, Tänak’s start to the season has been disappointing. Team principal Abiteboul has thus made a demand of the Estonian star.
“I think this season is going to be so tight that no driver can rely solely on their driving skills. There are few cars, but the competition is so fierce that it’s going to come down to intelligence and consistency, but most importantly, to hard work. And I think Ott is such a strong driver that he hasn’t yet needed to put in extra work in his career to clinch a title. I believe Thierry can be an inspiration and a model in this respect.”
“Thierry’s start to the season has been remarkable in terms of effort, commitment, and seriousness. His attitude towards the team and his public statements are relevant, intelligent, and measured, even when things aren’t going well. We’re seeing a truly great Thierry. Ott will have to step up to this level,” the French boss emphasized.
