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Neuville Wins Saudi Rally Amid Chaos
29 Nov
Summary
- Neuville secured his first win of the season after treacherous Saudi conditions.
- Evans finished second overall after a season-long championship battle.
- Drivers criticized the Saudi rally as a dangerous lottery due to poor conditions.
Thierry Neuville has won his first rally of the season, navigating the challenging new Saudi Arabian circuit where conditions were widely criticized by drivers. The treacherous stages led to significant disruptions, with leaders suffering punctures and rolling their cars, effectively making the rally a 'lottery' for participants. This unpredictable event allowed Neuville and co-driver Vincent Landais to gain crucial breathing room in the championship standings.
Elfyn Evans, who was in close contention with Ogier throughout the season-ending rally, finished second overall. This marks the third time Evans has been the bridesmaid to Ogier in the championship, reiterating his quest to become the third British WRC champion. His previous near-miss in 2020 at Monza, due to a crash on treacherous roads, echoes in this latest outcome.
Other notable performances included Ireland's Josh McErlean securing ninth place, finishing his first full-time WRC season in 11th overall. In the WRC2 category, England's Gus Greensmith took honors in Saudi, finishing behind second-category champion Oliver Solberg. Solberg is set to compete in a Toyota Rally1 car next season.
