Thierry Neuville, accompanied by Martijn Wydaeghe, won the WRC championship at the 2024 Rally of Japan, becoming the first Belgian to achieve this milestone. Hyundai also celebrates this result as it marks their first drivers' title in the history of the world championship.
The title was decided during the first stage on Sunday when Ott Tänak crashed and was forced to retire. This result gave Neuville the necessary advantage to secure his position at the top of the championship, even without finishing in the rally's top positions.
A rally full of challenges
The competition in Japan was not easy for Neuville. A turbocharger issue on Friday relegated him to 15th place, losing over seven minutes. However, on Saturday, he staged a remarkable recovery, climbing to sixth place in the overall standings.
Tänak was comfortably leading until stage 17, where his crash completely altered the course of the event. Hyundai, which had arrived in Japan with an advantage in the manufacturers' championship, was left at a disadvantage following this incident, allowing Toyota to take control in the final stages.
Toyota clinches the manufacturers' championship
Elfyn Evans, Toyota's leader in Japan, secured the rally victory, while Sébastien Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta contributed crucial points in the final stages. Adrien Fourmaux of M-Sport secured third place, marking his best season in the category.
The Power Stage was decisive for Toyota, as it allowed its drivers to surpass Hyundai in the manufacturers' standings. This result secured the Japanese team's eighth manufacturers' championship, highlighting their consistency throughout the season.
WRC 2
In addition to the main category, Sami Pajari claimed the WRC2 title with a calculated performance, while Nikolay Gryazin achieved his third victory of the year in this division.
| # | DRIVER | TEAM | TIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evans E. | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | 3:13:12.8 |
| 2 | Ogier S. | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | +1:31.2 |
| 3 | Fourmaux A. | M-Sport Ford WRT | +1:50.8 |
| 4 | Katsuta T. | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | +2:03.4 |
| 5 | Munster G. | M-Sport Ford WRT | +3:03.1 |
| 6 | Neuville T. | Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | +6:55.6 |
| 7 | Gryazin N. | Gryazin N. | +9:30.1 |
| 8 | Pajari S. | Printsport Racing | +11:01.6 |
| 9 | Arai H. | Ahead Japan RT | +12:27.3 |
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