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 withdraw Tanak’s i20 N after Saturday morning’s loop to organize his problem for the 12 factors on provide on Tremendous Sunday.
The choice got here with the Estonian already out of the battle for victory and Saturday factors after an unavoidable collision with a deer pressured him to retire from stage two on Friday.
Tanak rejoined the rally on Saturday morning, performing as street sweeper and one other automotive forward of Neuville and team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen within the street order.
With Tanak absent from the afternoon levels, Neuville duly moved up a spot within the street order. After a small error in stage 15, the Belgian in the end ended the day 0.1s behind Rally1 debutant Martins Sesks in fifth, shedding two championship factors within the course of.
“It was positively not a assist for us, that is for positive,” Neuville advised Autosport when requested concerning the determination to retire Tanak.
“I imply, every automotive you possibly can have in entrance cleansing the street is a bonus, particularly in a championship battle the place each single level actually counts. I believe it was a mistake, however that is what it’s.
“It may have been invaluable kilometres as properly for the automotive, attempting various things with none query.”
Cyril Abiteboul, Crew principal Hyundai World Rally Crew
Picture by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport
Hyundai workforce principal Cyril Abiteboul defined the rationale behind the choice.
“The considering is, with the present regulation of the tremendous rally and we had been thus far behind, that there was completely nothing to achieve,” Abiteboul advised Autosport.
“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 offer a little bit of aid 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 could be taking place that may actually assist Ott within the championship or in or within the beginning order for tomorrow.
“When that’s the case, we choose to get the crew to get better a bit and deal with the preparation for Sunday, as a result of that needs to be for him the most important cost.”