Thierry Neuville has hailed his third-place finish at Safari Rally Kenya as a hard-earned reward after enduring one of the most gruelling weekends of his FIA World Rally Championship career.
Thierry Neuville has hailed his third-place finish at Safari Rally Kenya as a hard-earned reward after enduring one of the most gruelling weekends of his FIA World Rally Championship career.
The Belgian battled through a barrage of setbacks – including illness, time penalties, and recurring mechanical issues – to claim the final step on the podium behind Hyundai team-mate Ott Tänak and event winner Elfyn Evans.
Neuville’s rally unravelled early, with a one-minute time penalty on Friday morning after his car’s gearbox change overran the service window. A puncture followed later that day, before Saturday delivered another wave of drama: a 50-second penalty for lateness after repairing his i20 N Rally1’s cooling package on a road section, and 10 more seconds added for a jump start.
The defending world champion also stopped to change a wheel on Saturday’s opening stage, struggled with a misted windscreen during a rain-soaked afternoon, and suffered another puncture on the penultimate test.
On top of that, Neuville revealed he felt unwell – possibly due to heat exhaustion – and didn’t sleep at all on Friday night before facing one of the rally’s toughest legs.
Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe celebrate their third-place result
“I mean, if we wouldn’t have been rewarded for all that effort this weekend, I would have been really disappointed,” Neuville said. “But again, it shows that rallying is the toughest motorsport in the world – and maybe one of the toughest sports [in general].
“You’re fighting for a whole week. The recce was already tough and challenging, but the rally was just another dimension this year, to be honest – in terms of conditions, challenges, so many difficulties, and obviously so many problems as well for us. And the health as well – that made it not much easier.”
Hyundai fielded its older-specification i20 N Rally1 in Kenya in pursuit of increased reliability. Neuville backed the decision but admitted lingering technical gremlins remain a concern.
“We had a great Sunday. I was really afraid that something was going to break down, but it didn’t – so I’m super happy,” he added.
“The rally just was another dimension this year – in terms of conditions, challenges, and so many difficulties.“
The automobile and its stories captivated him from birth and the freedom, expression, and personal bonds they enable continue to serve as inspiration. His inquisitive nature explores the how of the machines themselves, and the unique minds behind the creations. As a world traveler he longs for the open road, or better yet, the last signs of pavement.
