Neuville wins Acropolis Rally to close in on world title

Thierry Neuville edged closer to his first world championship title at the age of 36 after winning the Acropolis Rally on Sunday as main title rival Sebastian Ogier rolled his Toyota.

The Belgian mastered the gruelling Greek roads to finish ahead of fellow Hyundai drivers Dani Sordo and Ott Tanak respectively.

Ogier, Neuville’s nearest title challenger, dropped out of third place overnight after his crash.

Neuville had led since midday Saturday and unlike his rivals avoided trouble on the punishing roads on the final day to achieve his second success of the season after the opening round in Monte-Carlo. 

“We followed our objectives throughout the weekend and it paid off. The car worked perfectly so I have to thank the team,” Neuville said after his 21st WRC success. 

“I didn’t have the information on Ogier’s crash at all, and when I saw the car I still wasn’t sure it was him.

“I understood from that point on that I just had to bring home the car and get through.” 

The Belgian had approached the Acropolis Rally under pressure, with Ogier just 27 points behind.

But the French driver’s dreams of a ninth world title at the age of 40, to equal his legendary compatriot Sebastien Loeb took a knock.

On Friday, a turbocharger problem during the day’s last special cost him more than two minutes and thirty seconds. 

He made up half of the deficit on Saturday and started Sunday well positioned with the best times in the first two specials.

Going all out in the closing Power Stage, Ogier rolled over and said goodbye to Sunday’s points. 

The Frenchman, however, managed to limit the damage by finishing the stage to save the 13 points scored by Saturday evening. 

Three rounds from the end of the season, the eight-time world champion, will need a flawless performance and hope Neuville slips up.

The Belgian, a five-time world championship runner-up, moved closer to finally winning his first title, leading Ogier by 34 points.

The drivers now have an appointment in less than three weeks in Chile, before the Central European Rally in Germany and the finale in Japan in mid-November.