Thierry Neuville Targets Redemption at Rally Finland

Thierry Neuville heads into Rally Finland with renewed confidence after lessons from Rally Estonia gave Hyundai Motorsport a clearer direction for further development ahead of the Jyvaskyla round.

The reigning world champion believes Estonia and Finland share a similar foundation as high-speed gravel events. However, the difference in surface characteristics means the required setup and driving approach are not entirely identical.

“There are a lot of similarities between Estonia and Finland, but for me the biggest difference is the surface,” Neuville said. “Estonia is softer and more gravelly, whereas Finland has much higher grip, so sometimes it feels a bit like driving on tarmac.”

Read AlsoJari-Matti Latvala Ready for Rally Finland with New Livery

Finland’s gravel roads also feature more crests and blind corners. Those characteristics place greater emphasis on accurate pace notes, driver commitment and the car’s stability through high-speed sections.

Hyundai collected valuable data during Rally Estonia and still sees further performance available before the next event begins. “We learned a lot in Estonia and still have a little room for improvement, so we’ll be working to make the car even stronger ahead of Finland,” Neuville said.

Neuville also acknowledged that experience and local knowledge will provide several rivals with an important advantage. Many drivers understand the Finnish roads in considerable detail, which can be decisive on fast stages featuring repeated crests and blind corners.

His objective nevertheless remains unchanged. “Our goal is the same as it was in Estonia: to fight for victory, be in the battle from the very first stage, stay out of trouble and have a perfect weekend,” Neuville said.

Rally Finland will now offer Neuville and Hyundai their next opportunity to convert the lessons learned in Estonia into stronger performance from the opening stage.