Hyundai i20 WRC Go 1-2 IN Rally of Germany

Hyundai Shell World Rally Team has taken their maiden victory in its “home” rally in Germany.  The Korean motorsport team is based in Alzenau, which is only 225km from Rallye Deutschland’s service park in Trier.

 

After a major crash during Thursday’s shakedown Thierry Neuville has his team to thank for getting his #7 Hyundai i20 WRC to the start line.  Neuville thanked his team in the best possible way buy steering his i20 to the top podium. From what looked like an impossible task after his crash at the shakedown, just getting to the start line was a  victory, so top off the weekend in first place was a remarkable achievement.

 

 

 

 

Neuville said: “I am really happy for the entire Hyundai Shell World Rally Team and everyone back at the factory in Alzenau. Everyone has worked so hard in the past year to get us to where we are this season so to celebrate my debut WRC win with them is very special. It is even better that we have a 1-2 in our home event. I am particularly thankful for the team’s hard work this weekend. They did a fantastic job after our roll on Thursday to get the car repaired which makes this result more incredible. We have had three competitive days and we have been able to put the pressure on. Of course, it was a shame to see Jari Matti (Latvala) and Kris (Meeke) retire this morning, but that reinforced the need for us to remain focussed and concentrated. The conditions were very difficult so we had to take it steady to the end. It’s a great result and one which we will certainly never forget.”  

 

Runner-up in Germany was Neuville team mates and 2013 Rally Germany Dani Sordo, after a high-speed off which cost him time on Saturday he managed to capitalise on the misfortune of others in the rally to claim 2nd position.

 

Sordo said: “This is a great result for the whole team and a testament to all the people who work so hard in the team and at the factory. To get our first 1-2 is fantastic. Normally, I would prefer to be the one scoring the win but I am happy with second and I am pleased for Thierry. It has been a tough rally so we were focussed on getting to the finish safely. I have to say the team has really developed a lot since I was last competing, both in terms of the operations and the car performance. We can really use this result to continue our momentum and our learning in our first year.”

 

 

With the leading two VW drivers cashing out of the event, it was left Andreas Mikkelsen in the third Volkswagen Polo to claim the final podium spot and restore some pride for the German team.