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Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe seal FIA WRC titles in thrilling finale
The Belgian Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team crew has led the 2024 championship standings since the opening round of the year, underscoring their consistent season in the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid in which they have scored two wins, six podiums and 49 stage victories.
Neuville and Wydaeghe made the perfect start to their championship-winning campaign with an emphatic win at Rallye Monte-Carlo, before making the most of the new FIA WRC scoring system in Sweden and Kenya to maintain a slim lead in the standings.
Back on tarmac in Croatia , Neuville and Wydaeghe once again demonstrated their rally-winning potential, leading for 15 of 20 stages. A final day incident unfortunately cost them the victory, however their hard work up to that moment secured them the points they needed to remain at the top of the standings – and claim third place overall.
A second consecutive podium followed in Portugal as the FIA WRC began a run of seven back-to-back gravel events. Another third place saw the Belgians really gain momentum in the championship fight, extending their advantage to 24 points. Retirement from second place at Rally Italia Sardegna could have proved costly, but Neuville and Wydaeghe dug deep to dominate Super Sunday and maintain first place, with their closest rivals now team-mates Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja.
After three fast gravel events in Poland , Latvia and Finland , Neuville and Wydaeghe held a 27-point advantage over Sebastién Ogier and Vincent Landais , who had moved ahead of Tänak and Järveoja. However, an incredible podium sweep in Greece led by the Belgians saw them grow this even further, with Tänak and Järveoja reclaiming second in the standings. Neuville and Wydaeghe survived an intense Rally Chile to bring home fourth place, and more valuable points. At the team's home event, Central European Rally, the Belgians finished in third overall to head into Japan with a 25-point lead over their Estonian team-mates.
It was no means plain sailing for the crew at the final event of the year. While starting Friday on an ideal note with a stage win, Neuville and Wydaeghe then suffered a technical issue that dropped them out of the points-scoring positions on Friday. An incredible comeback on Saturday vaulted them back up to seventh, and they began Sunday requiring just two points to keep Tänak and Järveoja at bay. In a bittersweet twist, the Estonians crashed on the first stage of the morning – confirming Neuville and Wydaeghe as champions.
For Neuville, his debut FIA WRC drivers' title is the culmination of 11 seasons with Hyundai Motorsport. The Belgian has been instrumental in the team's successes in FIA WRC, from the very first podium at Rally México and debut win at Rallye Deutschland in 2014, to the two manufacturers' titles in 2019 and 2020. Together, Hyundai Motorsport and Neuville have built a solid working relationship – one of the longest in the FIA WRC – that has seen him finish as vice-champion four times and claim 21 victories, 62 podiums and 380 stage wins.
Thierry Neuville said:
Martijn Wydaeghe said:
Vice President Global Key Accounts and New Business Development at Shell Aysun Akik said:
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