Thierry Neuville is World Champion in rally. The Belgian secured the total victory during the competition in Japan. Neuville has previously finished as runner-up no less than five times. So the victory was long-awaited.
"Honestly, it came as a surprise. I don't know what to say now, but I think we deserve it. It has been a very challenging year. Very tough and obviously much more pressure than we needed. Especially this last competition", he says to the World Championship rally website.
His teammate in Hyundai, Ott Tänak, had the opportunity to threaten Neuville for the victory but crashed. Neuville finished sixth in the competition in Japan, which was won by Elfyn Evans from the United Kingdom.
Neuville is the first Belgian to become World Champion in rally.
