Ingram (r) will battle for title
Neuville was a TCR winner
Third place was not
enough for IngramNeuville dominates on circuit racing debut at the Nurburgring
After winning on his circuit
racing debut last weekend at the
Nurburgring, Thierry Neuville
said he hopes the experience can
help him with his Rally Germany
performance this week.
Neuville took a hat-trick of
pole position, fastest lap and
victory in his first circuit race in
the TCR Germany championship
as a VIP driver, in a Hyundai i30 N
tin-top. He led every lap.
“It was a great opportunity
for me especially before Rally
Germany, to drive a little bit onTarmac,” Neuville, who will
target his second World Rally
Championship asphalt win in a
row in Germany this weekend,
told Motorsport News. “Every
minute you can get in a car is
good so I’m pleased to be here
and enjoying it.”
Neuville confirmed that he
wants to take part in a 24-hour
race in the future – and could do
so in a GT3 car – but he wants to
spend at least the next two years
focusing on his quest to score
a first WRC title. The Belgian said:“The opportunity [to contest
the Nurburgring 24 Hours] is
there every year to be honest
with Hyundai, also the 24
Hours of Spa there’s always
the chance to drive with a
good team.” added
Neuville admitted he was doing
Rally Germany prep between
racing sessions last weekend.
“It really doesn’t match with
the WRC at the moment. It’s
too time consuming and takes
too much energy so I prefer to
focus on the WRC.”By Jack Benyon
After missing out
on European Rally
Championship 1 Junior
championship by just 0.3s
in Barum, Chris Ingram says
he will “give it everything”
to raise the budget to fight
for the overall title which
he now leads.
Skoda Fabia R5 driver Ingram
was keen to bag the junior title
as it provided a guarantee
through its prize money to
contest the last two rounds,
in Cyprus and Hungary.
Despite missing out on thejunior title with a third placed
finish, Ingram and co-driver Ross
Whittock snatched the lead of
the overall championship from
reigning champion Alexey
Lukyanuk. The Brits now plan
to raise funds to complete the
ERC season.
“To lose out [on the Junior
title] by that margin is horrific,”
Ingram told Motorsport News.
“The only way I’ll get over that
is by winning the overall title,
so we need to focus on that now.
“Winning the junior prize
fund would have been massively
helpful. But to be leading the
European Championship isamazing. I’m going to meet with
my team and with a number of
potential sponsors next week
and give it everything. We need
to win it.”
Ingram added that Barum
had provided an opportunity
for a reset and that he had driven
better than he had all year on
the Czech based event, won by
Jan Kopecky (see report page 18 ).
“We’re proud of the
performance, I’ve not been
driving like myself all year,”
said Ingram. “I’ve shown
glimpses on this rally of myself
coming back so we need to keep
it going that way.‘A double celebration for Breen’
British and Irish success in Ulster, p2 4Briton scraps around for backing to complete ERC season and aim for the biggest prize
INGRAM TARGETS EURO CROWN
AFTER MISSING OUT ON JUNIOR TITLE
L
ewis Hamilton starts
the season superbly.
Two events won out of
the first three, he’s looking
strong. But Sebastian
Vettel and Max Verstappen
are close behind.
Vettel wins the third event of the year,
while Verstappen makes some headway and
wins the next two at two completely different
venues, proving his car is better than perhaps
people thought. His team’s working well
and doing a better job of both upgrading and
extracting the maximum from its package.
Vettel adds to Hamilton’s woe by winning
the next two and Hamilton is all at sea. Except
he isn’t, because he’s only 22 points away
from the lead of the championship.
All three cars are competitive in the hands
of their respective drivers, Verstappen,
Vettel and Hamilton, all having pros and
cons with their respective machines.
Furthermore, Vettel has to cope with fast but
inconsistent team-mates, while Verstappen’s
squad can’t decide who to have next to him
in the second car, its boss notoriously tough
on his talent. Hamilton is lacking a partner
who can take points away from his rivals
through inconsistency.
Now, read that again, but replace Vettel
with Ott Tanak, Max Verstappen with Thierry
Neuville and Sebastien Ogier plays Lewis
Hamilton. While the analogy is not perfect,
the point is, why aren’t more people talking
about the epic WRC title race?
It has all the off-track excitement of Formula
1 in recent rounds. There has been Tommi
Makinen dressing down Jari-Matti Latvala and
Kris Meeke for costing Toyota a podium and
robbing their team-mate Tanak’s rivals of
crucial points. Then there is Hyundai which –
in a paradox not dissimilar to Red Bull – can’t
seem to choose who to put in its car apart
from its Verstappen-style star Neuville.
Ogier’s Citroen is clearly lacking in pace
compared to his rivals, but he is also fighting
with one-hand tied behind his back in a quest
for a seventh title as he only has one-team-
mate to two for the others, Esapekka Lappi
proving massively inconsistent before a
return to form in his native Finland.
Then there’s the fact that Elfyn Evans –
who, let’s not forget was the closest driver to
the top three in the standings – has missed
the last two rounds through injury and the
reigning champion with Ogier, the M-Sport
Ford World Rally Team – is somewhat
floundering despite doing a good job
considering the circumstances.
All that equates to add something that, if this
was F1, it would be the most exciting season
in ages. Despite its off-track excitement, F1’s
title was decided ages ago, with just under
half the season to go. Tanak, Ogier and
Neuville will almost undoubtedly fight this one
out to the last round, just like last year. And, it’s
about time more of the motorsport fraternity
sat up and took notice of what is another
vintage season of the WRC.MN’S WRC SPECIALIST
AGREE/DISAGREE?
letters@motorsport-news.co.uk“I was putting pressure
on myself and over-driving.
I prepared well and tried to relax
as much as possible which is the
hardest thing ever. It was almost
impossible. I just trusted myself
more than I have done ever.”Despite crashing heavily in
testing for the event last year
in an R5 car, Gus Greensmith
says that Rally Germany
was “one he was secretly
hoping to do”.
Greensmith
replaces M-Sport
Ford Rally Team
regular Elfyn
Evans – missing
with a back injury- for the second
event in a row in
the squad’s
Fiesta
WRC.
Greensmith had regularly run
in the top 10 until he hit a tree
on the last stage in Finland.
Germany will be his third
event in a WRC car and
his first on asphalt.
“Germany was the
one I was secretly
hoping to do,”
Greensmith told
Motorsport News.
“Tarmac has always
been my stronger
surface and Monte
[when he won WRC 2
Pro] was a good boost.
“Rally Germany was
the one I was
always
keento do. When I got asked, I said
yes and I feel like it can be a
competitive round for us.”
Greensmith says his testing
crash from last year has not
affected his approach to
events. His co-driver Craig
Parry was seriously injured
in the crash, but has stayed
in touch with Greensmith
and remained involved in
his career.
“You can’t change the
past,” added Greensmith.
“I would rather it never
happened. That’s rallying,
it’s never affected my
approach to anything.
“I’m actually really looking
forward to getting back.Panzerplatte is still one of
my favourite stages and to
drive it in a World Car will be
something quite special.”
● M-Sport has confirmed
Pontus Tidemand will join
the team in what it hopes is
a three-car entry for Rally
Turkey, providing Evans has
returned to fitness. Tidemand
contested the first two events
of the year with M-Sport and
hasn’t competed in the WRC
since. M-Sport was due to have
a three-car team in Finland
last month, but Hayden
Paddon’s crash in testing
destroyed the car he was
supposed to use the event
and he was unable to start.Greensmith relishing Rally Germany challenge in one further M-Sport call-up
J
ACKBENYON
“People need to
take notice of the
WRC title scrap”
Advertising enquiries: 0203 405 8110 motorsport-news.co.uk AUGUST 21 2019 13Greensmith has another M-Sport Fiesta chance
Ingram(r)willbattlefortitle
Neuville was a TCR winner
Thirdplacewasnot
enoughforIngramNeuville dominates on circuit racing debut at the Nurburgring
After winning on his circuit
racing debut last weekend at the
Nurburgring, Thierry Neuville
said he hopes the experience can
help him with his Rally Germany
performance this week.
Neuville took a hat-trick of
pole position, fastest lap and
victory in his first circuit race in
the TCR Germany championship
as a VIP driver, in a Hyundai i30 N
tin-top. He led every lap.
“It was a great opportunity
for me especially before Rally
Germany, to drive a little bit on
Tarmac,” Neuville, who will
target his second World Rally
Championship asphalt win in a
row in Germany this weekend,
told Motorsport News. “Every
minute you can get in a car is
good so I’m pleased to be here
and enjoying it.”
Neuville confirmed that he
wants to take part in a 24-hour
race in the future – and could do
so in a GT3 car – but he wants to
spend at least the next two years
focusing on his quest to score
a first WRC title. The Belgian said:“The opportunity [to contest
the Nurburgring 24 Hours]is
there every year to be honest
with Hyundai, also the 24
Hours of Spa there’s always
the chance to drive witha
good team.” added
Neuville admitted he wasdoing
Rally Germany prep between
racing sessions last weekend.
“It really doesn’t matchwith
the WRC at the moment.It’s
too time consuming andtakes
too much energy so I preferto
focus on the WRC.”ByJackBenyon
Aftermissingout
onEuropeanRally
Championship1 Junior
championshipbyjust0.3s
in Barum,ChrisIngramsays
hewill“giveit everything”
to raisethebudgetto fight
fortheoveralltitlewhich
henowleads.
SkodaFabiaR5driverIngram
waskeentobagthejuniortitle
asit provideda guarantee
throughitsprizemoneyto
contestthelasttworounds,
inCyprusandHungary.
Despitemissingoutonthe
juniortitlewitha thirdplaced
finish,Ingramandco-driverRoss
Whittocksnatchedtheleadof
theoverallchampionshipfrom
reigningchampionAlexey
Lukyanuk.TheBritsnowplan
toraisefundstocompletethe
ERCseason.
“Toloseout[ontheJunior
title]bythatmarginis horrific,”
IngramtoldMotorsportNews.
“TheonlywayI’llgetoverthat
is bywinningtheoveralltitle,
soweneedtofocusonthatnow.
“Winningthejuniorprize
fundwouldhavebeenmassively
helpful.Buttobeleadingthe
EuropeanChampionshipisamazing.I’mgoingtomeetwith
myteamandwitha numberof
potentialsponsorsnextweek
andgiveit everything.Weneed
towinit.”
IngramaddedthatBarum
hadprovidedanopportunity
fora resetandthathehaddriven
betterthanhehadallyearon
theCzechbasedevent,wonby
JanKopecky(seereportpage 18 ).
“We’reproudofthe
performance,I’venotbeen
drivinglikemyselfallyear,”
saidIngram.“I’veshown
glimpsesonthisrallyofmyself
comingbacksoweneedtokeep
it goingthatway.‘Adouble celebrationfor Breen
BritishandIrishsuccessinUlster,pBritonscrapsaroundforbackingtocompleteERCseasonandaimforthebiggestprize
INGRAM TARGETS EURO CROWN
AFTER MISSING OUT ON JUNIOR TITLE
L
ewisHamiltonstarts
theseasonsuperbly.
Twoeventswonoutof
thefirstthree,he’slooking
strong.ButSebastian
VettelandMaxVerstappen
areclosebehind.
Vettelwinsthethirdeventof theyear,
whileVerstappenmakessomeheadwayand
winsthenexttwoat twocompletelydifferent
venues,provinghiscaris betterthanperhaps
peoplethought.Histeam’sworkingwell
anddoinga betterjobof bothupgradingand
extractingthemaximumfromitspackage.
Vetteladdsto Hamilton’swoebywinning
thenexttwoandHamiltonis all at sea.Except
heisn’t,becausehe’sonly 22 pointsaway
fromtheleadof thechampionship.
Allthreecarsarecompetitivein thehands
of theirrespectivedrivers,Verstappen,
VettelandHamilton,all havingprosand
conswiththeirrespectivemachines.
Furthermore,Vettelhasto copewithfastbut
inconsistentteam-mates,whileVerstappen’s
squadcan’tdecidewhoto havenextto him
in thesecondcar,itsbossnotoriouslytough
onhistalent.Hamiltonis lackinga partner
whocantakepointsawayfromhisrivals
throughinconsistency.
Now,readthatagain,butreplaceVettel
withOttTanak,MaxVerstappenwithThierry
NeuvilleandSebastienOgierplaysLewis
Hamilton.Whiletheanalogyis notperfect,
thepointis, whyaren’tmorepeopletalking
abouttheepicWRCtitlerace?
It hasall theoff-trackexcitementof Formula
1 in recentrounds.TherehasbeenTommi
MakinendressingdownJari-MattiLatvalaand
KrisMeekeforcostingToyotaa podiumand
robbingtheirteam-mateTanak’srivalsof
crucialpoints.Thenthereis Hyundaiwhich–
in a paradoxnotdissimilarto RedBull– can’t
seemto choosewhoto putin itscarapart
fromitsVerstappen-stylestarNeuville.
Ogier’sCitroenis clearlylackingin pace
comparedto hisrivals,butheis alsofighting
withone-handtiedbehindhisbackin a quest
fora seventhtitleasheonlyhasone-team-
mateto twofortheothers,EsapekkaLappi
provingmassivelyinconsistentbeforea
returnto formin hisnativeFinland.
Thenthere’sthefactthatElfynEvans–
who,let’snotforgetwastheclosestdriverto
thetopthreein thestandings– hasmissed
thelasttworoundsthroughinjuryandthe
reigningchampionwithOgier,theM-Sport
FordWorldRallyTeam– is somewhat
flounderingdespitedoinga goodjob
consideringthecircumstances.
Allthatequatesto addsomethingthat,if this
wasF1,it wouldbethemostexcitingseason
in ages.Despiteitsoff-trackexcitement,F1’s
titlewasdecidedagesago,withjustunder
halftheseasonto go.Tanak,Ogierand
Neuvillewillalmostundoubtedlyfightthisone
outto thelastround,justlikelastyear.And,it’s
abouttimemoreof themotorsportfraternity
satupandtooknoticeof whatis another
vintageseasonof theWRC.MN’SWRCSPECIALIST
AGREE/DISAGREE?
letters@motorsport-news.co.uk“I wasputtingpressure
onmyselfandover-driving.
I preparedwellandtriedtorelax
asmuchaspossiblewhichis the
hardestthingever.It wasalmost
impossible.I justtrustedmyself
morethanI havedoneever.”Despite crashing heavily in
testing for the event last year
in an R5 car, Gus Greensmith
saysthatRallyGermanyGreensmith had regularly run
in the top 10 until he hit a tree
on the last stage in Finland.
Germanywillbe his third
car and
phalt.
any was the
s secretly
to do,”
mith told
port News.
c has always
stronger
nd Monte
won WRC 2
good boost.
Germany was
the one I was
always
keento do. When I got asked, I said
yes and I feel like it can be a
competitive round for us.”
Greensmith says his testing
crash from last year has not
affected his approach to
events. His co-driver Craig
Parry was seriously injured
in the crash, but has stayed
in touch with Greensmith
and remained involved in
his career.
“You can’t change the
past,” added Greensmith.
“I would rather it never
happened. That’s rallying,
it’s never affected my
approach to anything.
“I’m actually really looking
forward to getting back.Panzerplatte is still one of
my favourite stages and to
drive it in a World Car will be
something quite special.”
● M-Sport has confirmed
Pontus Tidemand will join
the team in what it hopes is
a three-car entry for Rally
Turkey, providing Evans has
returned to fitness. Tidemand
contested the first two events
of the year with M-Sport and
hasn’t competed in the WRC
since. M-Sport was due to have
a three-car team in Finland
last month, but Hayden
Paddon’s crash in testing
destroyed the car he was
supposed to use the event
and he was unable to start.Greensmith relishing Rally Germany challenge in one further M-Sport call-up
J
ACKBENYON
“People need
take notice of
WRC title scra
Advertising enquiries: 0203 405 8110 motorsport-news.co.uk AUGUST 21 2019 13
Greensmith has another M-Sport Fiesta chance