The newly crowned world rally champion believes his mental strength has been key to finally achieving his ultimate goal

After finishing runner-up on five occasions, Thierry Neuville can no longer be called the bridesmaid and has joined the exclusive club of World Rally champions. Here’s how the Belgian went from rising

Elfyn Evans takes victory in the season-ending Rally Japan as Thierry Neuville claims his first World Rally Championship title after a 15-year wait.

Perennial WRC Hyundai contender Thierry Neuville has finally ended his title drought at Rally Japan, as Toyota kept up its Rally1 domination.

Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe have clinched the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship title in the most dramatic of circumstances, securing their maiden crown after Hyundai Motorsport team-mates Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja crashed out on the opening stage of Rally Japan’s final day.

Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe are the 2024 WRC Champions! The opening stage of the final day of WRC Forum8

Ott Tanak extended his Rally Japan lead on Saturday, but all eyes were on his Hyundai teammate, Thierry Neuville (above), as he vaulted up the leaderboard to put himself within touching distance

Rally Japan 4 Update

Evans clinched the rally win by 1m27.3s from Toyota team-mate Ogier, while M-Sport-Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux ended his breakout WRC season, with a fifth podium in third [+1m55.6s].

Ott Tanak has dramatically crashed out of the lead of Rally Japan which has handed Thierry Neuville the World Rally Championship and swung the manufacturers title battle towards Toyota. Tanak started Sunday with a 38 second rally lead over Toyota’s Elfyn Evans which he needed to maintain to keep his WRC title hopes alive.