Hyundai’s Belgian star Thierry Neuville and Norwegian third driver Andreas Mikkelsen participated in the La Nucia Rally, held near the holiday resort of Benidorm. Neuville drove the entire rally without a hybrid unit, as Hyundai was not only testing for the Japan rally but also preparing for the coming season, when the hybrid units are likely to be scrapped entirely in the World Rally Championship.
Although Neuville is undoubtedly a driver of a different calibre than Mikkelsen, who is nonetheless a WRC rally winner, Neuville’s performance in the La Nucia Rally showed that hybrid units might as well be thrown in the bin. Neuville clocked the fastest time on all 11 stages of the rally, ahead of the Norwegian driver. Of course, Neuville’s car was likely also lighter without the unit.
However, Neuville and Mikkelsen made a gentleman’s gesture by not entering the Parc Ferme area after the rally. As a result, the two Rally1 entries did not receive a final classification, with Estonian driver Robert Virves, driving a Skoda, declared the winner.
Virves, familiar from the World Rally Championship, fought a fierce battle throughout the rally with Spain’s Jorge Cagiao, who was competing in an Alpine. In the end, Virves was crowned the winner with a 10.7-second margin after nearly 130 stage kilometres. Third place went to Enrique Cruz from the host nation, driving a Ford.
Miguel Foster, competing in a Citroën, took fourth place, ahead of Finnish driver Lauri Joona. No award ceremonies were held at the end of the La Nucia Rally, as a mark of respect for the victims of the floods in the Valencia region.
Neuville and Mikkelsen’s work continues at the Japan WRC rally, which kicks off in just under two weeks. For Neuville, it presents a golden opportunity to capture his first world championship, as he holds a sizeable 25-point lead over teammate Ott Tänak before the season finale. Hyundai also has a strong hold on the manufacturers’ championship title.
Rally La Nucia results:
| POS. | Driver | Car | Time |
| 1. | Robert Virves | Skoda | 1:16.08.5 |
| 2. | Jorge Cagiao | Alpine | +10.7 |
| 3. | Enrique Cruz | Ford | +45.0 |
| 4. | Miguel Fuster | Citroen | +1:28.0 |
| 5. | Lauri Joona | Skoda | +2:01.7 |
| 6. | Antonio Forne | Skoda | +4:05.5 |
