
In one of the most electrifying World Rally Championship finales in memory, Hyundai Motorsport’s Thierry Neuville and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul claimed a stunning victory by only 0,7 second in Rally Argentina, the fifth round of the 2017 FIA WRC.
It is the team’s second win in a row after Tour de Corse, and its fifth WRC victory in total. Not only is it the first time that Hyundai Motorsport has secured back-to-back successes, but the Belgian crew also become the first repeat winners of the 2017 WRC season.
It was a less positive final day for the two other Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team crews. Hayden Paddon and co-driver John Kennard took sixth place overall, despite power steering problems for most of the final stage. Meanwhile, the troubles continued for Dani Sordo and Marc Martà as they picked up a front-right puncture in the Power Stage. They managed to bring their car home to take eighth place overall.
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Epic showdown
After a torrid start to the rally on Friday, Neuville and Gilsoul began an epic fight-back on Saturday to reduce the gap to rally leader Elfyn Evans. From being one minute down at the start of the second day, they started Sunday’s three stages with a deficit of only 11,5 seconds. An incredible win in Special Stage 17 (Mina Clavero -Giulio Cesare) further reduced the gap to just 0,6 second.
The stage was set for the ultimate showdown with two crews vying head-to-head for victory in the El Condor Power Stage. A quick and clean run by Neuville was enough, as he triumphed by a mere 0,7 second. The result enters the history books as the third closest ever finish in WRC, after Rally Jordan in 2011 (0,2s) and Rally New Zealand in 2007 (0,3s).
Taking Power stage spoils as well, Neuville picked up the maximum 30 points on offer in Argentina to advance to third place in the increasingly close-fought drivers’ championship.
Neuville commented: “I have never had such a nerve-wracking final few minutes of a rally in my career. It’s an amazing result and I have to thank all of the team for everything they’ve done. Congratulations also to Elfyn, who put up an incredible fight this weekend. I gave it absolutely everything I had in today’s final stages.
“After the difficult start to the rally, I would have been happy to take second, but it’s a special feeling to win again. It has been an exciting, but crazy rally from the start, so to come away with the victory is fantastic.”
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Hyundai Motorsport has strengthened its grip on second place in the manufacturers’ championship with the dramatic result in Rally Argentina.
The WRC returns to Europe for Rally de Portugal, which takes place from 18 to 21 May, the second of five consecutive gravel events.
Final overall result, Rally Argentina:
- T. Neuville/N. Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) 3:38:10.6
- E. Evans/D. Barritt (Ford Fiesta WRC) +0.7
- O. Tanak/M. Jarveoja (Ford Fiesta WRC) +29.9
- S. Ogier/J. Ingrassia (Ford Fiesta WRC) +1:24.7
- J. M. Latvala/M. Anttila (Toyota Yaris WRC) +1:48.1
- H. Paddon/J. Kennard (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +7:42.7
- J. Hänninen/K. Lindstrom (Toyota Yaris WRC) +11:16.9
- D. Sordo/M. Martà (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +14:44.1
- M. Østberg/O. Floene (Ford Fiesta WRC) +15:11.3
- P. Tidemand/J. Andersson (Skoda Fabia R5) +17:32.1
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers’ standings:
1. S. Ogier (102 points); 2. J.M Latvala (86); 3. T. Neuville (84); 4. O. Tanak (66); 5. D. Sordo (51); 6. E. Evans (42); 7. C. Breen (33); 8. H. Paddon (33); 9. K. Meeke (27); 10. J. Hänninen (15); 11. A. Mikkelsen (12); 12. S. Lefebvre (10).
2017 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers’ standings:
- M-Sport World Rally Team (162 points)
- Hyundai Motorsport (140)
- Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC (99)
- Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team (71)
Source: QuickPic