Thierry Neuville retired on the penultimate stage of the stage of the day due to a water leak which was triggered by a big bump in the road.
The Belgian was fifth in the overall standings and was shown driving without a light pod through the dark stage. Not much later he stopped.
Neuville explained that a compression in the road caused the light pod to come loose. The compression triggered a water leak as well. Neuville: “Actually, everything was going well, but after a few kilometres into the stage there was a fast flat left coming out of the forest with some compression. And after the compression the light pod came off, and immediately we got the water pressure alarm. And three corners later I saw the temperature was going higher and higher so we knew it will be difficult to go to the end, but we tried, but unfortunately the leak was too big and I had to retire.”
Neuville didn’t notice the compression on the first pass earlier today: “It’s a flat left, but I just spoke to Sébastien [Ogier] and he said that he also had a compression over there.”
No restart on Sunday for Neuville
Hyundai Motorsport comfirmed that Neuville won’t restart tomorrow due to ”subsequent engine damage from the incident”. A statement reads: “Thierry Neuville and & Martijn Wydaeghe were forced to stop on SS14 after a compression broke the radiator and caused a water leak. Due to subsequent engine damage from the incident, they will not restart tomorrow.”
Neuville’s retirement from the rally means that his titelchances are very slim now. If Sébastien Ogier brings home fifth tomorrow, Neuville won’t be able to overcome the points gap.
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Photo: Hyundai Motorsport