Even if Thierry Neuville often repeats “ no need to win the title this weekend “, it is clear that this left curve in SS11 stuck in his way. “ There is bound to be disappointmenthe agreed on Saturday evening. An error occurred yesterday while viewing our videos. We probably weren’t 100% focused… I didn’t necessarily realize that this turn was a bit of a trap with my grade system. I overrated him and got screwed. » Fallen 4e of the ranking, the Belgian is in the race to score 10 points if he finishes tomorrow. There will also be points from day three and the Power Stage to take into account. Depending on Ott Tänak’s result, Neuville can still get the crown at the end of this CER. However, it won’t be easy…
Now 24 points ahead of his teammate, the Belgian must score 7 more than him during the golden Sunday. He would find himself with a margin of 31 units at the start of Japan and would no longer be able to be joined by the Estonian, even if he is a full success (30 pts). Thierry must indeed count one more point, because if Tänak dominates the final round (where he will also have to hope for a 0 from his rival…), they will be tied on points, but also on victories (2 each). The champion will then be designated based on the 2es et 3es places and in this little grocer’s game, it is the Baltic who would be titled… For Neuville the task promises to be complicated, because the maximum that it is possible to record during this final day is 12 (7 for the stage and 5 by winning the Power Stage).
At the end of 2e stage, the championship leader did not seem to have any dilemma heading into the final day. “ We have to drive fast to try to get as many points as possible before the Japan rally. It will be important to finish. »
The 4 special stages representing 54 km timed on Sunday will probably not change the face of the championship which will have to go all the way to designate its winners, but there is a very small chance that Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe will be crowned in Passau.
