Thierry Neuville expressed dissatisfaction with the Hankook control tyres in the World Rally Championship, stating they are not performing at the expected level following tire problems at the Acropolis Rally Greece.
Neuville faced punctures that caused him to drop from the rally lead to eighth, with other drivers in the Rally1 field also experiencing tire damage while navigating the rough gravel stages.
Despite tire issues affecting his performance, Neuville managed to climb to seventh overall, but remained frustrated with the tire quality, emphasizing the challenges faced due to punctures and manufacturing reliability issues.
Hankook, the control tire supplier for the first year in WRC, acknowledged Neuville’s concerns, attributing the challenging conditions at Acropolis Rally as the toughest test for their product so far in the season.
Hankook’s spokesperson echoed Neuville’s frustrations and recognized the extreme conditions in Greece, indicating a heightened challenge compared to previous years in terms of temperature and stage conditions.
