One step away from success
The Super Sundays of the last three Rallies (Croatia, Canary Islands, and Portugal) proved decisive for the victory of a driver, who climbed to the top step of the podium after a dramatic event that denied a competitor the win when everything seemed already decided. After the mistakes at the best moments by Neuville and Solberg, just a step away from what would have been their triumph in Croatia and the Canary Islands, in Portugal the same fate befell Sébastien Ogier, but not due to his fault.
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The puncture in Portugal
During the penultimate stage, when everything seemed already decided, the nine-time world champion lost the lead due to a puncture. For this reason, Neuville achieved his first win of the season, with Ogier not even making it to the podium. After the Portuguese rally ended, the Frenchman did not accept a post published on social media by Hankook, which has been the sole tire supplier in the WRC since last season.
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The reply to Hankook
The Korean company, in fact, praised the performance of its tires on gravel tracks: “Dust, jumps, relentless action on dirt characterized the Portugal rally. Hankook Dynapro R213 tires guaranteed durability and control on rough terrain and in high-speed stages. Next appointment: Rally Japan.” However, on X (formerly Twitter), Ogier gave a sharp reply: “I hope this is a joke”.
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