RALLYRACC - RALLY DE ESPAÑA
The battle for the manufacturers' crown in the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship reaches a decisive point in Spain this week as just two teams remain in contention for the crown ahead of RallyRACC - Rally de España (20/23 October). Toyota Gazoo Racing can seal its second title in as many years at this penultimate round. The only squad able to prevent that from happening is Hyundai Motorsport, which trails the former by 81 points.
With such an advantage, a trouble-free outing for Toyota should be sufficient to get the job done. But Hyundai has a trick up its sleeve: Thierry Neuville is the man to beat on the smooth asphalt roads in the hills behind the Costa Daurada, south of Barcelona. Following two successful tarmac results, going three in a row would be a big boost for the Korean manufacturer squad.
Neuville is joined by i20 N colleagues Ott Tänak and home hero Dani Sordo, who has finished on the podium at the last six rallies he has contested. Toyota's campaign is led by Kalle Rovanperä, who became the youngest WRC champion in history at Repco Rally New Zealand earlier this month.
The Finn and team-mates Sébastien Ogierand Elfyn Evans are the men charged with keeping Hyundai at bay, while Takamoto Katsuta drives a fourth GR Yaris under Toyota's Next Generation banner. M-Sport Ford fields a five-pronged Puma line-up. Craig Breen will be looking to give co-driver Paul Nagle a strong send-off on his final WRC rally, while Gus Greensmith, Adrien Fourmaux and Pierre-Louis Loubet also feature. Greek privateer Jourdan Serderidis drives the fifth car.
After Thursday evening's start ceremony in Salou, the action begins on Friday morning. Competitors face 19 stages covering 293.77km before Sunday afternoon's finish in Salou.
19th October, 2022