Thierry Neuville almost assured of becoming world rally champion this weekend in Japan

The particular profile of the Japan rally must also be taken into account. Martin Wydaeghe, Neuville’s co-driver, recalled that taking notes was even more tedious than in Corsica – which is nevertheless a reference of its kind – estimating that he sometimes blackened up to 40 pages of his notebooks for 20 km of special. Tänak confirms this particularity: “The roads are winding, narrow, slow almost everywhere. The stages feel like they never end. So, if we add the asphalt changes, it makes the event very tricky. » The good news for everyone, but for Neuville in particular, is that last year’s crazy weather conditions will give way to cold sunshine in the Toyota region this weekend.