Neuville Ready To Ride His Luck In Mexico

Road order is likely to hinder championship leader’s pace

- David Evans

Thierry Neuville will face one of the biggest challenges of his career when he’s forced to open the road at this week’s Rally Mexico.

Arriving in Leon as championship leader, the Belgian will face the worst of the conditions on the opening day of the season’s first gravel rally. Neuville topped the WRC standings after Rally Finland last year, but that actually offered an advantage for the all-asphalt Rally Germany.

Despite understanding he will lose time to his rivals, Neuville remains upbeat about his situation.

“I know what’s coming,” he told MN after opening a 10-point advantage over his nearest rival Sebastien Ogier in Sweden. “But I am really happy with the performance we did in Sweden. We are ready for Mexico and we will do what we can. It’s part of the game.

“Morale and motivation couldn’t be higher. Mexico is a nice event with good memories from my first podium in 2013 and then when we scored Hyundai’s first podium a year later.”