Autumn rally, World Cup and more: Interview with rally star Thierry Neuville

Rally star Thierry Neuville used the autumn rally in Dobersberg on October 12, 2024 to prepare intensively for the upcoming Central European Rally.

Nope. We had the opportunity to meet Thierry Neuville, the expected new World Rally Champion, for an exclusive interview. We asked him about his preparations for the upcoming world championship and about the challenges that the rally routes in Dobersberg presented him. Although he set the best times with his Hyundai i20 N, he was outside the rankings. He also told us what makes rallying so special for him.

Preparations for the Central European Rally

Neuville was satisfied with the conditions at the autumn rally in Dobersberg and explained that the weekend served as a perfect preparation for the Central European Rally:

“Yes, that is the goal of this weekend here. We are preparing for the Central European Rally and I think we have excellent conditions.”

He particularly praised the routes:

“The tracks are very good, so I think we can do a good job here.”

Fog in the morning, but progress on the vehicle

The morning of the rally was characterized by thick fog, which significantly limited visibility. Nevertheless, Neuville and his team managed to carry out important tests on the car.

“It was quite foggy outside this morning and visibility was poor, but we were still able to work on the car and improve a few things on the second run,”

he explained. Further tests were planned for the afternoon:

“Now we have to test a few more things this afternoon that we might want to use at the Central European Rally.”

Spectacular for drivers and spectators

When asked what makes rallying so special to him, Neuville responded enthusiastically:

“I always grew up with rallying and dreamed of it. It is one of the sports that gives the most adrenaline. Rallying is very varied and offers many challenges, which makes it spectacular for both drivers and spectators.”

“Great routes and lots of spectators”

At the end, Neuville drew a positive interim conclusion from the autumn rally:

“So far so good. There are great routes, great regions, difficult conditions – exactly what we are looking for. It’s always nice to see so many people on the side of the track.”

With this positive impression of the event, Neuville was optimistic about the upcoming Central European Rally.

For further reading:

Neubauer wins ahead of Von Thurn & Taxis

Zellhofer family makes it into the top 10