Month: November 2017

Hi everybody,

What a feeling!

Ending up the season with a victory is such a great thing… and winning here in Australia on these tracks that seem to have been created for rally cars makes it even better.

We were determined to go for another good result after our podium in Wales, and the least we can say is that it did work out pretty well.

To win here, we absolutely had to be amongst the top drivers on Friday despite our unfavourable starting order… the first loop in the narrow forest stages was especially tricky and we had to “clean” the road covered in leaves and dust. But we did it and ended up the day in third position.

Our Hyundai is so competitive on gravel, and we were in for an epic battle with our new team mates Andreas Mikkelsen and Anders Jæger who were having a great run. Unfortunately for them, a double puncture ruined their hopes and we were leading the rally from Saturday afternoon.

Thierry really was at the top of his game: so fast yet keeping everything under control. Driving on these Australian tracks with such a driver was just pure pleasure. We had 5 more stages to go on Sunday with a 20 seconds lead.

Then the rain spiced it all up a bit, but we never doubted, always picked the right tyres choices thanks to the great work from the Hyundai weather forecast team. And despite the pressure from Jari-Matti who never gave up, we made no mistake and secured our sixth WRC win! 

There is no better boost for us and the team than finishing 2017 on such a high note and we can’t wait to be in Monte Carlo!

But for now, time for some well deserved holidays and some work out to keep in good shape! 

What a rally!

The tracks through the Welsh forests are quite simply magic… fast and slippery, and if you add to that the tyipical ‘Rally GB’ conditions -Mud, rain, fog- you simply get one of the most exciting events of the year.

Despite a little ‘glitch’ and a 10 seconds penalty on the first day, Thierry quickly found the right pace… if Elfyn Evans’ Ford and his Dmack tyres were out of reach, we were playing in the big league.

For a co-driver, those stages designed in private woods are amazing! This is why I love rallying so much. Our Hyundai was perfect and we were faster than all the other Michelin drivers on Saturday… but a dramatic penultimate stage in the fog did cost us a bunch of seconds.

But Thierry bounced back straight on and we regained our 2nd position overall on Sunday morning and kept it till the end, with a 5 bonus points from the Power Stage. In conclusion, it’s a very satisfying result. Congrats to Seb Ogier and Julien Ingrassia who won the title… see you guys in 2018 for the revenge!

Before that, we will battle hard in Australie to keep our 2nd position in the championship!

Thanks once again for your support. It means the world to us.