WRC Rally Belgium
Neuville reveals support from Jacky Ickx for Ypres WRC win
Thierry Neuville has revealed Le Mans 24 Hours legend Jacky Ickx was sending him messages of support on his way to securing a drought-ending World Rally Championship victory in Belgium.
Tom Howard
Edited: Aug 17, 2021, 12:57 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The Hyundai Motorsport driver recorded a comfortable win at the Ypres Rally as the event made its long awaited debut on the WRC calendar this weekend.
Neuville headed a Hyundai 1-2 finishing 30.7 seconds ahead of teammate Craig Breen to score his first win of the season, while ending Hyundai’s poor run of form that after unreliability and misfortune cost the team likely wins at the previous four rallies.
The Belgian claimed his first WRC win on home soil in style - and his first anywhere since the Monte Carlo Rally at the start of 2020 - winning seven stages across the event, which concluded in front of a huge crowd at the famous Spa-Francorchamps circuit.
Neuville was handed the winner’s trophy by six-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner Ickx, who had been sending the Hyundai driver messages of support throughout the event.
“Jacky, I've known him for more than 10 years and he is one of the guys who sends me messages every rally,” said Neuville.
“I got one last night with a lot of emojis and flames and stuff to say that he was believing [in me], and I knew that he was here today so I sent him a message back saying 'see you tomorrow', and I think he understood that well.”
Read Also:
Having headed into the event as the overwhelming favourite, Neuville admitted it was a relief to record the victory, which ranks among the best of his career, and places him firmly in the championship hunt.
Victory and a bonus three points from the powerstage has elevated Neuville to joint second in the championship with Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, with the pair 38 points adrift of leader Sebastien Ogier, who finished fifth in Belgium.
“The feeling basically is relief to win the event - we knew everybody was waiting on us to win this event or at last finish on the podium, but our target was to go and win,” Neuville added.
“We felt comfortable from the beginning, I was in control of the race all the time and that made me feel quite comfortable.
“I didn’t need to go faster, I could have if it was needed, but I was really afraid of punctures to be honest this weekend. That was the only big concern I had.
“It definitely feels great. It is a win we wanted so much and it is also a win that is important for the championship because we are able to secure a lot more points than Elfyn and Sebastien.
“In general, it was a good weekend not only for the win but also because we have closed the gap in the championship as a team with one and two.”
The WRC is due to head to Greece next month for the Acropolis Rally (9-12 September), which is one of four events remaining on the calendar.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Belgium WRC: Neuville ends Hyundai's win drought in Ypres
Next article Hyundai boss hails team's resolve in pressure lifting WRC win
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Tom Howard
WRC’s new champion Elfyn Evans celebrates title with Wales show run
WRC
WRC
WRC’s new champion Elfyn Evans celebrates title with Wales show run
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
WRC
WRC
M-Sport’s 2027 WRC Fiesta Kit car breaks cover
More from
Thierry Neuville
What does the future hold for Thierry Neuville and Hyundai in WRC?
WRC
WRC
Rally Italy
What does the future hold for Thierry Neuville and Hyundai in WRC?
Takamoto Katsuta will “never forget” rivals’ help after “biggest” career WRC crash
WRC
WRC
Rally del Paraguay
Takamoto Katsuta will “never forget” rivals’ help after “biggest” career WRC crash
More from
Hyundai Motorsport
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
WRC
WRC
Adrien Fourmaux confident of WRC drive despite 2027 uncertainty
Adrien Fourmaux eager to end WRC's Rally1 chapter in style
WRC
WRC
Rally Italy
Adrien Fourmaux eager to end WRC's Rally1 chapter in style
Latest news
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Phoenix II
39 min
Catching Larson in the NASCAR Chase has to start at track where 'I suck'
Verstappen charges from 24th to ninth as GetSpeed wins Portimao GTWC finale
GT World Challenge Europe Endurance
WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 1 h
Verstappen charges from 24th to ninth as GetSpeed wins Portimao GTWC finale
Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss
FIA F2
F2 FIA F2 5 h
Colton Herta “maybe underestimated the difference” from IndyCar – F2 boss
WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota
WEC
WEC WEC
Barcelona
6 h
WEC Barcelona: Genesis secures maiden series pole from Toyota
Feature
Discover prime content
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.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe