In an exhilarating climax to the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship, Belgium’s Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe secured their first Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ titles for Hyundai Motorsport. The pair’s triumph, achieved at Rally Japan, marks a historic milestone for the team in an intensely competitive season.
Neuville and Wydaeghe have dominated the championship from the outset, maintaining their lead since their emphatic opening-round victory at Rallye Monte-Carlo. Driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid, their season highlights include two wins, six podiums, and an impressive 49 stage victories.
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The Belgian duo set the tone with a commanding performance in Monte-Carlo, leveraging the revised FIA scoring system to sustain their lead through challenges in Sweden and Kenya. Their resilience shone through at Rally Croatia, where a final-day setback cost them a win, but a calculated recovery secured vital points to retain their championship position.
Momentum continued to build during a gruelling sequence of gravel events, including podium finishes in Portugal and Greece. Despite a setback in Sardinia, Neuville and Wydaeghe’s determination paid dividends, with dominant displays on Super Sundays solidifying their lead.
As the season headed to its conclusion, their advantage over rival teams grew, peaking with a pivotal victory in Greece and a composed performance on home soil at the Central European Rally. Heading into Rally Japan, they held a 25-point cushion over teammates Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja.
Drama Unfolds in Japan
Rally Japan proved far from straightforward for the championship leaders. After a strong start, a technical issue on Friday plunged them down the order. Yet, an extraordinary comeback saw them climb to seventh by Saturday. By Sunday morning, just two points were needed to clinch the title.
In a dramatic twist, Tänak and Järveoja, leading the rally at the time, crashed out in the first stage of the day. This incident confirmed Neuville and Wydaeghe as world champions with four stages still to run.
“This is a dream come true,” said Neuville. “After 11 seasons with Hyundai, this title is the culmination of years of dedication and resilience. My thanks go to Martijn, our team, and everyone who believed in us.”
Co-driver Wydaeghe added, “Our mental resilience has been key all season. Even in tough moments, we stuck to our strategy and it paid off. This is a team victory as much as ours.”
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The success marks Hyundai Motorsport’s first-ever FIA WRC Drivers’ and Co-drivers’ titles. However, the manufacturers’ championship narrowly slipped away to Toyota after an intense final showdown, with just three points separating the two teams.
Hyundai Motorsport President Cyril Abiteboul praised the team’s efforts: “Thierry and Martijn’s triumph is a landmark moment for us. Their unyielding determination and teamwork have been extraordinary. While we missed the manufacturers’ title, this season has been our most successful yet, and we’re proud of what we’ve achieved.”
As the dust settles on a remarkable 2024 season, Hyundai Motorsport can reflect on a year of milestones, record points, and a championship-winning campaign that cements their place among rallying’s elite.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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