One wrong choice of tires probably cost Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe the victory in the Rally of Croatia. Neuville, who was allowed to start the second day as leader, lost more than twenty seconds in barely two chrono rides. He is now third, just 15 seconds behind Toyota driver Sébastien Ogier.
The two tests by Grdanjci and Gornja Vas turned the Rally of Croatia. “Apparently the asphalt is slightly different here than on Friday’s roads,” said world champion Ott Tänak at the end of the first test. “I wonder if we made the right tire choice this morning.”
Not so. Just like his Hyundai teammate, Thierry Neuville also went wrong when choosing the rubbers on Saturday morning. “The rear of the car is almost impossible to check,” the Oostkantonner analyzed. “The car is sliding in all directions. Wrong tire choice. ”
The agony for Neuville and Tänak is not over yet. They have to complete two chrono rides on the same tires on Saturday morning.
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