© AFP
The fifth WRC round is the first of a series of unpaved rallies in which Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) are participating. After their slip on Sunday in Croatia, they still finished on the podium and will start as World Cup leader in Portugal.
Bron: BELGIAN
Neuville knows what it takes to be successful in Portugal. “It is a rally with three different surfaces. On Friday there is a lot of dust at first. During the second passage the route is rougher. Saturday is similar, but on Sunday the course is more sandy, which means there is a different grip level and you have to use a different driving style. Success depends on consistency, good setup and confidence in the car. And of course also the starting position: if it rains we will be fast, if it is dry we will have more difficulty. My ambition is to do as well as I can on Friday and Saturday before pushing for maximum points on Sunday. I would like to finish on the top step of the podium.”
Being the first on the track, Neuville is at a disadvantage. “If you spread gravel on the floor, the first person to walk on it will have a hard time walking on it. The second also has some problems, but the third and fourth can step where the others have already done so. That is also the case with us. The first wagon rides on loose stones. The second is less affected by this. The third car already feels a bit more grip and from the fourth car onwards a track is created so that everyone can drive faster.”
After four World Cup rallies, Neuville is still the World Cup leader. “We have to keep the focus and stay out of trouble. The new points system ensures that after a poor start on Sunday you can still get twelve points.”
