Thierry Neuville, the current points leader in the World Rally Championship, faced a series of challenges during the recent stages of the Safari Rally. After climbing to second position on Saturday morning, Neuville’s hopes for a podium finish were quickly dashed when his Hyundai i20 N experienced power issues. This resulted in him having to stop multiple times during the stage, eventually finishing in EV mode. The problem, reportedly related to the fuel system, could not be fixed by the team, causing Neuville to lose more than 10 minutes in the afternoon loop. As a result, he dropped to fifth place overall, more than 11 minutes behind the leader, Kalle Rovanpera.
Despite his best efforts to overcome the setbacks, Neuville’s frustration was evident in the service park. This is not the first time he has faced difficulties at the Safari Rally, highlighting a pattern of misfortune at the event. Reflecting on the day’s challenges, Neuville expressed his disappointment, stating, “I’m really disappointed with the outcome when you put some much effort into that work and your preparations, and you don’t get the reward, and it is the fourth consecutive year we have been hit by trouble, it doesn’t feel very good.”
Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul acknowledged the unusual nature of Neuville’s issues in the afternoon, emphasizing the need to analyze the data and fuel tank to understand the root cause. Despite the setbacks, Neuville still has the opportunity to earn valuable championship points if he can complete Sunday’s stages. With a new points system introduced in 2024, there is a chance for Neuville to salvage some points and stay in the title race.
Neuville’s teammate, Esapekka Lappi, also faced a series of challenges during the Safari Rally, including punctures and encounters with local wildlife. In a bizarre turn of events, Lappi’s i20N was struck by two birds in separate incidents during the final stage of the day. The collisions resulted in his windscreen being smashed, leading to poor visibility and forcing him to slow down significantly. Lappi also had to contend with debris entering his eyes, further adding to the difficulties he faced during the rally.
Reflecting on the unusual encounters with birds, Lappi commented, “The last one [stage] was going well but we had a couple of birds and they were at different locations. One was just flying and I don’t know how big it was but [co-driver] Janne [Ferm] was sure it was going to come inside. I couldn’t see anything anymore and we needed to slow down a lot as it was not safe to drive.”
Both Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi encountered significant challenges during the Safari Rally, highlighting the unpredictable nature of rally racing and the resilience required to navigate through unexpected obstacles. Despite the setbacks, both drivers have showcased their determination to continue fighting and overcoming adversity in pursuit of their championship goals.
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