Hyundai Motorsport finished the 2018 WRC season with a podium in Rally Australia but lost the driver’s and constructors’ titles. Thierry Neuville retired on the at the start of the last day’s second loop. He clipped a tree, causing terminal damage to his i20 Coupe WRC.
At the end of the season, Hyundai had 3 victories, 11 podiums and 68 stage wins. The championship has been a fascinating roller coaster of emotions and the whole team of Hyundai Motorsport was proud to have played its part in a truly incredible season. The team ultimately finished as runners-up in the manufacturers’ battle with Neuville second in the drivers’ classification. Everyone in the team extended its congratulations to Sébastien Ogier on securing the drivers’ championship and to Toyota Gazoo Racing on winning the manufacturers’ title.
“We gave it everything and had to take some risks to try and capture the title. Even it was only a small chance, we had nothing to lose. And we simply went wide and clipped a tree. That was it, championship over”, Neuville said
“It has been a difficult and tricky weekend, and not the way we wanted the season to end but it’s part of the game. I would like to say thanks to the team and everyone at Hyundai Motorsport in Alzenau for giving us the car to fight for the title this year. Congratulations to Sébastien and Julien [Ingrassia]; it has been great to fight with them this year. We knew there would be one winning crew and that two would go home empty-handed. It’s unfortunate we are the unlucky ones on this occasion. It’s been a great season for WRC. We’ve attracted some new fans, so now we have a short break and we can look ahead to another season.”
“Of course we are disappointed but we gave it everything we had. It was always going to be tough for Thierry to capture the title; he had no other option than to push. That’s rallying and we accept all the emotions that come with it”, Team Principal Michel Nandan added.
“This has been one of the most closely fought championships for years. The fact it went right down to the final morning shows just how competitive this season has been. We have utmost respect for our rivals and our congratulations go to Sébastien for the drivers’ title and to Toyota for the manufacturers’. We will now look back on the highs and lows of our season as we prepare to come back fighting in 2019. On a final note, I would like to congratulate Gabriele Tarquini on securing the FIA World Touring Car Cup drivers’ title in an i30 N TCR.”
#WRC ONEBET Jump of the Year 2018: @thierryneuville / @nicolasgilsoul @HMSGOfficial ? #congratulations #WRCGalaAwards @RallySweden pic.twitter.com/zIv0RSuNnB
— WRC (@OfficialWRC) November 19, 2018
