Eye On The Prize

Thierry Neuville appears to be on the verge of achieving what seemed unthinkable, dethroning Sebastien Ogier.

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Is it possible? Can it really happen this year? Will Sebastien Ogier, the five-time defending FIA World Rally Championship champion really fall off his perch this year? Thierry Neuville’s reply to all these questions, with just four rounds of the WRC season left at the time of this issue going to press, seems to be a resounding yes.

At the wheel of his Hyundai i20 WRC he has amassed three victories, six podiums and 172 points in nine rounds so far after the Finland and Germany rounds of the season. Ogier in his Ford Fiesta WRC lies second with 149 points, three wins and four podiums.

And just to make things a little more interesting, Ott Tanak’s sensational first season at the wheel of his Toyota Yaris WRC has resulted in three wins – he won both Rally Finland and Rallye Deutschland – five podiums and 136 points. So, there is no real guarantee that Ogier may even finish as runner-up.

In the opinion of India’s most prolific rally driver Gaurav Gill, who has begun to compete in WRC-2 from this year, it is unwise to pick a favourite for the title just yet.