Rallye d’Italia Sardegna 2023 – Sunday afternoon
Thierry Neuville took his and Hyundai Mobis Shell World Rally Team’s first win of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship season by beating the rain-affected Wolf Power Stage of Rally Italia Sardegna at the top of the provisional classification.
With fellow Belgian Martijn Wydaeghe co-driving, Neuville’s success was his 18th in the WRC and his third at the demanding Mediterranean island gravel event and means there have been four different winners so far this season.
“It was a tough weekend,” said the 34-year-old, who drove a Pirelli-equipped Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid. “We came here believing we could fight for the win, but we lost a bit of time on the first day, made it up and lost it again. But then we found ourselves at the top and had to manage it. It’s the first win of the season, the first for our team manager and it’s a one-two for the team. We all have Craig in our memories too.”
Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferme made it a Hyundai one-two with Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen third for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT and the winners of the 50th Wolf Power Stage in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid.
Report to follow.
