Top 20 moments of 2014, #18: Neuville, Hyundai win first rally after rolling in Germany
Looking back over the top moments of 2014, we find ourselves at #18, when Thierry Neuville won Rally Germany scoring his first win and the first win for Hyundai.
XPB Images
Upside down on Thursday, at the top of the podium come Sunday
The WRC rally in Germany was arguably the wildest event of that championship season. Thierry Neuville kicked off the event in spectacular fashion, flipping his Hyundai six times during the shakedown. At the end of the weekend, he stood at the top of the podium, celebrating his first every win on the world stage.
What happened between these two moments were just as crazy. The VW's were poised until Sebastien Ogier had an incident during the final stage of the opening leg. He returned to action in leg two, only to crash once more, going through a barrier and into the undergrowth.
Chances for a one-two finish for Hyundai
Teammate Jari-Matti Latvala picked up the torch for the team and ran away with the lead. However, he would share a similar fate as his fellow VW driver. During the final leg of the rally, he went flying through a vineyard and crashed out, handing over command of the rally to Citroen's Kris Meeke. He looked to become the first Brit to win a WRC event since 2002 until he shockingly went off as well, misjudging a pace note and putting a wheel off.
As titans fell around them, a hungry little Hyundai emerged from the chaos and took the victory. It was the Belgian racer's 41st WRC event and one I'm sure he will remember for quite a long time.
"I think it’s some kind of home event for Hyundai, but first of all I consider it as a home event for me because I live very close and I really like this rally and we have thousands of Belgians coming to support us. It’s probably the rally which is the closest to my hometown. For Hyundai, of course we are a Korean team, but we’re based in Germany so it’s always a pleasure to get a strong result in the country you’re working and living in," he said.
"After Thursday night we know the mechanics worked hard, but not only the mechanics, the whole team did an incredible job to achieve this one-two result. But of course the mechanics deserve some beer."
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Jimmie Johnson on the Next Gen: "You can’t slip and slide this car"
Mayer beats Sieg to Texas NASCAR Xfinity win in spectacular photo finish
Remembering Alan Kulwicki: NASCAR's tragic maverick champion
Meeke wins on rally return in Craig Breen’s honour
Meeke could get a career lifeline in form of Pirelli role
Why Tanak's 'head or heart' call will shape WRC 2020
Ostberg gets full WRC2 season with Citroen
Citroen open to making WRC car available to privateers
How Ogier's Citroen dream died
"Complete s***show" - Does the DTM test still make sense in its current form?
What the Chinese GP's highlights reveal about its first F1 race for five years
The off-track action that makes the Miami GP an F1 race like no other
F1 Chinese GP: How to watch, ESPN Formula 1 TV times in USA
How Rovanpera showed his class above his WRC rivals in Kenya
How a new 'old' challenge is capturing the spirit of British rallying lore
How Lappi survived Swedish snow carnage to snap his lengthy WRC drought
The new WRC highs Neuville reached to defeat Monte master Ogier
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments