Hyundai factory driver Thierry Neuville will commence a busy build-up to next season by having his first tarmac test of Hyundai’s 2017 i20 next weekend.
As Hyundai continues a solid development phase for the new-for-2017 WRC regulations, Neuville will enjoy his first taste of the wider and more powerful Korean hatch on a sealed surface.
It will be a prelude to the official unveiling of Hyundai’s weapon which it hopes will be a leading contender for the WRC titles next year.
“I’ve got a tarmac test in the new car at the end of the week,” Neuville said.
“We have many things going on. The presentation of the new car in Monza in a few weeks.
“I will be quite busy.”
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Neuville sealed second in the driver’s standings with his third-placed effort, helped by team-mate Hayden Paddon’s hapless final day which saw him drop to fourth.
“I wasn’t expecting the podium,” Neuville admitted.
“After two or three stages I realised that if I want to get second in the championship I had to push very hard all weekend.
“Finally that’s what we have done. Andreas has done really well and was reading the rally really well.
“I had no choice but to go as fast as possible. We achieved our goal.”
Neuville had a solid second half of the season with Rally Australia realising the Belgian’s fifth straight podium for himself and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul.
It also saw him shoot from eighth in the points amid early season reliability issues to the runner-up spot behind VW’s Sebastien Ogier.
“I have learned a lot about myself in the last few years since I joined Hyundai,” Neuville said.
“The objectives of the team were not always the same as mine because I wanted to fight for more wins.
“I made huge progress at the end of last year.
“When the car became reliable this year we were more consistent. We are now five times straight on the podium.”
“With my driving I have learnt a lot this weekend because I was the first to follow Seb (Ogier) on the stages and I could see his lines on those difficult stages.
“I’ve seen some interesting things,” he quipped.
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