With only three rounds remaining, Neuville holds a 34-point lead over his teammate Ott Tänak. Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, who sits in third, trails the Belgian by 38 points.
Check out the WRC standings here!
Especially with the WRC’s new points system, Neuville’s position is even more secure. His championship could withstand a couple of retirements, as long as the Hyundai driver continues to score points on Sundays. Neuville admits that chasing a win in the upcoming Rally Chile might not be the best strategy.
“We are going to push through the weekend without trouble and score as many points as possible; our main target is to keep a good lead in the championship,” Neuville explains.
“The last three rounds are going to be about managing the gap and Chile is an important event for that. We need to come away with good points before going to the tarmac rounds where we know we can do well.”
Rally Chile is known for its fast stages, but the gravel roads of South America are also extremely tough on tyres. As the championship leader, Neuville will be the first car on the road, which means he’ll have to deal with clearing loose gravel, especially on Friday.
“Rally Chile is similar to some of the other gravel events we have faced this season, but the stages can vary a lot. We were able to really enjoy the drive last year and finish on the podium to make our weekend even better,” Neuville summarises.
“We need a lot of traction from the car, particularly with our road position, but it also needs to be resistant to bumpier sections because the risk of punctures in Chile is high.”
Rally Chile will feature a total of 16 special stages, covering around 307 kilometres.
