Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: Neuville takes victory in WRC season opener
28th January 2024Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville has taken the Rallye Monte-Carlo win as he put up a superb defence against Toyota’s, Monaco master, Sebastien Ogier.
It has been a clean recovery drive from Neuville, who suffered a spin on Friday, as he secured his first win of the 2024 championship season. The all-Belgian crew, including his co-driver Marijn Wydaeghe, now stand as the championship leader.
Trouble started early for the Belgian car as he suffered a spin on the Friday morning loop. Although he slipped down to third, behind Ogier and Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, Neuville came back with speed.
By the end of Saturday’s action, the Belgian driver found himself in the lead of the rally with a tight battle between himself and Ogier. 3.3 seconds separated himself and the nine-time Monte winner as they entered Sunday’s action.
With his eyes on the prize, Neuville went on to secure all three stage wins on Sunday including the Wolf Power Stage. The #11 Hyundai drove away from the season opener with a perfect weekend, securing 30 points.
On the win, Neuville said:
“I don’t have the words, to be honest. It was just so great this weekend, i felt so comfortable in the car. The team has done an amazing job and I think the whole package was very well.
“It was the first time that we had the team in place like this, and I think this has been a good sign for the future.”
The clean sweep of stage wins meant Ogier could not mount a counterattack to threaten the Belgian from victory. By the end of the event, Ogier found himself in second, 16.1 seconds adrift of Neuville’s overall time which denied him his 10th Monte-Carlo victory.
Despite leading the rally over Thursday and Friday, Evans could not pose a threat to the top two drivers as he dropped down to third after the 12th stage. The British driver rounded out the event in third, 29.1 seconds off Ogier but 45.2 seconds away from Neuville.
On victory, Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal, Cyril Abiteboul said:
“Winning in Monte-Carlo is on everyone’s bucket list when you work in motorsport.
“As a team, we are relieved – not only because we have won an iconic event, but also that it has been remarkable and collected demonstration.”
That’s all for the article; Rallye Monte-Carlo 2024: Neuville takes victory in season opener!
Read more WRC here:
- Rallye Monte-Carlo: Neuville takes rally lead but Ogier remains close
- Rallye Monte-Carlo: Evans retains lead but Ogier is on the hunt
- Rallye Monte Carlo: Evans clears opening day of WRC season
- WRC: Where are they racing and when?
- Abiteboul takes up dual role as Hyundai Team Principal and President
- Toyota reveal striking new livery for their Rally1 Yaris
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
