The Hyundai driver had a clear task for the final day of the season: deliver a solid performance and secure at least two additional points to guarantee the title.
However, Neuville’s championship was sealed during the first special stage on Sunday. Ott Tänak, who was leading the rally, crashed near the end of the stage and was forced to retire. Tänak was Neuville’s only remaining challenger in the championship fight, and his exit handed the title to the Belgian.
Neuville received the news of his maiden world championship before the second stage of the morning.
“It came a bit as a surprise. We were preparing the car ahead of the stage, and I got a call from Florian, my assistant. He never calls, so I said ‘something must be wrong, we need to be careful.”
“But then I heard a lot of people screaming behind, so I understood that it was a good news,” Neuville recounted.
The rally was still ongoing, and Neuville couldn’t afford to lose focus entirely, as Hyundai was still battling Toyota for the manufacturers’ championship.
“It took a while to realise what had happened. There were two more stages after that (before service) and we felt that the pressure was gone and just started enjoying again,” Neuville said.
Neuville and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe celebrated their championship properly at the finish of the Power Stage, the concluding test of the tarmac rally in Japan.
“I’m feeling great! We have worked for this for so long. We were many times very close, but this year we have been rewarded for it,” Neuville said, glowing with joy.
In the manufacturers’ championship, Hyundai ultimately fell short, losing to Toyota by just three points.
Read more: Here are the final standings of the WRC – Ott Tänak drops one place
