An average of +2.6 points on Tänak per rally
Analyzing the figures from the 11 rounds (out of 13) already contested, the probability of seeing Thierry Neuville win his first world crown on October 20 in Germany is really high. If we start by focusing on the duel between him and Ott Tänak, we see that over the entire past season, Thierry Neuville has taken an average of 2.6 points per rally from his teammate. Of course, we also see (see table opposite) that both in Sardinia and in Latvia, Tänak clearly reversed the trend, twice recovering 13 points from the Belgian driver. And if we stick to the only two asphalt rallies contested so far (Monte-Carlo and Croatia), since it is on this surface that the season will end, the figures also speak in favor of Neuville who, let us remember, is the only driver this season to have managed to pocket the ‘jackpot’ (30 points) in Monte-Carlo by relegating the Estonian (4th) to almost two minutes. Before his outing in Croatia, Neuville had a lead of more than a minute and fifteen seconds and was ultimately ahead of his teammate, despite this incident.
-1.25 points lost on Ogier by confrontation
If we compare with Sébastien Ogier over the eight rounds in which the Toyota driver has already taken part this season, we see that the eight-time world champion has scored 10 points more than Thierry Neuville. Freelance this year, the Frenchman therefore gained an average of 1.25 points from our compatriot, signing the biggest gap in Latvia, where the Hyundai driver’s role as opener was the most penalizing. With successes in Croatia, Portugal and Finland, the Gapençais also has one more victory than Neuville, winner in Monte-Carlo and Greece. But if we come back to the asphalt, the Belgian scored more points than his rival. By beating Ogier consistently on these lands last January, Thierry Neuville achieved a masterful blow! And let’s remember that he dominated Ogier for 80% of the Croatia Rally before handing over to him following a deviation from the trajectory.
Asphalt: Neuville and Hyundai advantage!
The asphalt which will preside over the last two world rounds this year therefore also constitutes an advantage for Neuville. Not only is this its favorite surface, but also, unlike gravel rallies, the Hyundai behaves better there than the Toyota. And let’s remember that starting in the lead on this surface generally provides an advantage, knowing that as the cars pass, dirt coming from the shoulders inside the turns (ropes) is thrown onto the road, the making it more slippery. Thierry Neuville has also scored 10 of his 21 world victories on this surface.
And to return to the Central Europe Rally which will experience its second edition in a little over a fortnight, shared between the Czech Republic and Germany with an incursion into Austria, only one name appears so far on the list of winners of this young test, that of Thierry Neuville!
Results and rankings
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