Geoffroy Theunis (his manager): “Thierry deserves this world title for his work”
“I met Thierry as part of the RACB during the Ford RACB Rally Contest in 2007. He caught the eye of the jury but did not get the wheel because he did not speak a word of French. In 2008, he had made significant progress and I remember handing him the winner’s keys at the Ford test track in Lommel. In 2009 he joined the RACB National Team and that’s where we learned to be better. know at the end of 2013, we negotiated together his commitment to Hyundai for the 2014 season. We really had very good human contact from the start and we have been working in perfect harmony for more than eleven years.”
“Thierry is a very loyal person. He is also a hard worker with unfailing determination. I remember that at the start of his career with the RACB National Team, he was still working as a milling turner in a factory in his region. I accompanied him to see his boss in order to obtain more facilities for him to free himself up for the rallies. But the man refused, which ultimately pushed Thierry to resign to devote himself 100% to the rally. rally.”
gullThe Dakar is a project that is close to his heart.”
“Faced with such determination but also the encouraging results recorded by Thierry in 2011 in the IRC (Intercontinental Rally Championship), I made the decision to leave the RACB to pursue my career alongside him. We have built a common history. J “I met a kid in 2009 and, today, I manage a man, father of a family and director of a company which is on the verge of winning its first world title.”
“At the start, I played a bit of the role of big brother; today, that is no longer the case at all. The teams have become more professional, communication has evolved quite a bit. There are a lot of things to manage, a lot of details to settle but it’s true that Thierry and Martijn have a ‘bubble’ of comfort within the Hyundai Motorsport team. I have seen Thierry evolve over time and followed him from A to… Z. and this possible world champion title is a real accomplishment for me. It will not be an end in itself since, as you know, he signed a contract extension for 2025 with Hyundai Motorsport, with an option for 2026. It will depend. context but I can see Thierry racing at the highest level for a few more years. There will come a time when he will want to take on new challenges, like participating in the Dakar, for example. I know it’s a project that is close to his heart. to heart.”
Danny Naessens (His physio): “His enthusiasm and perseverance”
“Physiotherapist at M-Sport since 2006, notably for drivers like Grönholm, Hirvonen or Latvala, I met Thierry during his first WRC season at Ford in 2013. I got into the habit of assisting the drivers coordinator by preparing daily drinks and snacks during rallies When he moved to Hyundai, Alain Penasse, the team manager of the team, let me know that Thierry wanted me to follow him. Working with Belgians is also this. who interested me in this project At the time, Nicolas Gilsoul was his co-pilot; so, there was me the Flemish, Thierry the German-speaking and Nicolas the French-speaking.
“I have seen Neuville grow as much as Hyundai. This development has happened in parallel. I take care of keeping him in good shape using all the techniques at my disposal. Thierry is someone who masks his stress quite well. He is also able to turn the page very quickly, especially after a failure. This is an important asset. Just like his enthusiasm and his perseverance which are for me his two other great qualities. Tuesday and Wednesday, we talk a lot, about the rally and things in life. I work with both Thierry and Martijn and I try to free them up completely before the start of the event. It’s a real pleasure to participate. to this great adventure Thierry could be my son but we have never had this relationship and I believe that, if he were to change disciplines, I would like to continue following him.”
Christian Loriaux (Program Manager Hyundai Motorsport): “He reminds me of Carlos Sainz”
“I met Thierry at M-Sport in 2013. His year was excellent because he finished second in the championship behind Ogier. When I arrived at Hyundai in 2021, I found someone that I had perhaps misjudged at the start The problems that plagued him were generally not his fault but resulted from the team’s shortcomings. I discovered a super hard-working driver, always positive and who never gave up. Humanly, I place him very highly. high in the list of drivers I have worked with.”
gullThierry never gives up.
“I admire him a lot because he is a great professional. He never stops! Everything comes together very quickly between the rallies and the tests but, year after year, Thierry always devotes the same energy to it. What’s more, he has an incredible burst of speed If there is a season where he really deserves the title, it is this year that he owes it mainly, even if Hyundai provided him with a reliable car. in the lead since the start of the season and has managed all the hazards In terms of work and professionalism, he reminds me of Carlos Sainz There are drivers faster than him but, just to achieve a scratch during a rally. WRC, you already have to be an exceptional driver.”
Linda Hirvonen (Press Officer): “He leaves nothing to chance”
“I have known Thierry since he started at Citroën in a promotional format. In 2013, he asked me to take care of his communication and his social networks. He has evolved dramatically in terms of communication. First of all by learning very quickly to express himself mainly in French. This is part of his temperament. As soon as there is work to be done, he does it. When it comes to communication, he now exudes confidence. He no longer hesitates to say what he thinks to make things evolve. He is a very good communicator. When there are communication errors, we learn all the lessons, especially with the brand’s PR. his manager Geoffroy Theunis was totally absorbed by the added pressure of the world title. When Sébastien Ogier criticized him in Greece, it made him smile and, in the end, it did. is especially Ogier who has lost his temper a little. Thierry could have already been world champion several times. But, at the end of this season, I really don’t see anyone else who deserves it as much as him.”
Sandrine Wanson (Drivers coordinator): “With Martijn, they form a perfect duo”
“My role is to organize everything for the crews, both in terms of hotels and their travel and their daily needs during the rallies and during testing. I met Thierry during the Citroën Trophy for which I worked for thirteen years old At the time, he didn’t speak French at all. I saw him evolve throughout his career. At the service points, I also take care of setting up the drinks and snacks as Danny. , the physio has prepared. I take care of drying the helmets, I change the hoods and the gloves. When they ride on a special stage, I will prepare their hotel room with everything they need for the next day. In terms of clothing and change, I think he has acquired incredible maturity. With Martijn, they form a duo who complement each other perfectly. The way they have managed this season is truly exemplary.
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