Thierry Neuville says victory in Portugal was personal ”revenge” for letting Hyundai down after a final stage mistake in Croatia cost the team a first World Rally Championship win of 2026.
This weekend the 2024 world champion found himself in a similar position to that of a month ago in Croatia, leading into the final stage.
Neuville had been locked in the victory hunt all week in Portugal, but was handed a golden opportunity to end Hyundai’s victory drought when Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier surrendered the lead after picking up a puncture in the penultimate stage.
In contrast to Croatia, Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe successfully completed the final stage in Portugal to claim a first win for Hyundai since the pair triumphed at last year’s Saudi Arabia season finale in November.
A 23rd WRC win for Neuville, who is now tied with four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen, was visibly emotional at the finish after suffering such a low in Croatia. But the significance of the victory was much more than just personal payback to the team.
“Personally it is a bit of revenge. I gave back what I should have given to the team in Croatia for sure,” Neuville told Motorsport.com.
“But more than the victory, which is definitely very important for the team as they desperately needed it, I think to see that the performance was there throughout the weekend was probably the most encouraging thing to see that we can fight at the top level.
“I was able to manage my race a bit too and that is the key. If you want to win rallies you need to be able to build your weekend and manage your weekend. You can only do that if the car works and the confidence is there otherwise it is just not possible.”
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Diogo Cardoso – Getty Images
Neuville’s co-driver Wydaeghe echoed the sentiment, adding: “It means a lot not only to me and Thierry but to the team. I think after what happened in Croatia we dropped very low and it took some effort to come back, but we have come back stronger and we showed again our never give up mentality.
“Thanks to the team as well as they have pushed very hard the last few weeks so they deserve it.”
Neuville has struggled for confidence behind the wheel of the i20 N Evo Rally1 car that has a narrow operating window. The difficulties to perform even led the Belgian to declare that this season as the hardest of his WRC career.
Now back on the top step of the podium, Neuville says Rally Portugal is proof to always carry on believing and to never give up.
“It has definitely been the most frustrating [time of my career[] for sure,” he added. “In the situation we are in, not knowing what is the future [for Hyundai in the WRC] and people leaving [the team], not winning and not getting podiums, for sure it is hard to be optimistic for what the future should bring.
”But again the rally has shown us this weekend we need to carry on believing, working hard and not giving up and we get the payback.”
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