World Rally Championship factors chief Thierry Neuville believes it was a mistake for Hyundai to retire Ott Tanak’s automotive after stage 12 at Rally Poland.
Hyundai elected to retire Tanak’s i20 N after Saturday morning’s loop to organize to problem for the 12 factors on supply on Tremendous Sunday.
The choice got here with Tanak already out of the battle for victory and Saturday factors after an unavoidable collision with a deer compelled him to retire from stage two on Friday.
Tanak rejoined the rally on Saturday morning performing as highway sweeper and one other automotive forward of Neuville and team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen within the highway order.
With Tanak absent from the afternoon phases, Neuville moved up a spot within the highway order. The Belgian, who made a small error in stage 15, finally ended the day ending fifth, 0.1s behind Rally1 debutant Martins Sesks, and misplaced two championship factors within the course of.
“It was positively not a assist for us, that is for positive,” Neuville advised Motorsport.com when requested in regards to the determination to retire Tanak.
“I imply, every automotive you’ll be able to have in enjoyable cleansing the highway is a bonus, particularly in a championship battle the place each single level actually counts. I feel it was a mistake, however that is what it’s.
“It may have been precious kilometres as properly for the automotive, making an attempt various things with none query.”
Cyril Abiteboul, Crew principal Hyundai World Rally Crew
Photograph by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
Hyundai group principal Cyril Abiteboul defined the rationale behind the choice.
“The pondering is that with the present regulation of the tremendous rally and we have been to date behind that there was completely nothing to achieve,” Abiteboul advised Motorsport.com.
“We began [Ott] within the morning as a result of we wished to do a correct shakedown of the automotive after the restore.
“We additionally wished to present a little bit of reduction to Thierry by having an additional automotive doing a little bit of cleansing within the morning when it mattered, however within the afternoon clearly the advantages are decrease, and it was very clear that, , nothing can be occurring that will actually assist Ott within the championship or in or within the beginning order for tomorrow.
“So, when that’s the case, we desire to get the crew to get well a bit and deal with the preparation for Sunday, as a result of that needs to be for him the most important cost.”
