P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Neuville frustrated as WRC Safari Rally hoodoo continues
Thierry Neuville, the WRC points leader, had a tough day at the Safari Rally, climbing to second position before encountering power issues with his Hyundai i20 N, eventually dropping to fifth place. Neuville’s struggles cost him over 10 minutes and he lost seven championship points to his rival, Elfyn Evans. Despite the disappointment, Neuville vowed to keep fighting and finish Sunday’s stages to score more points. Hyundai’s team principal, Cyril Abiteboul, expressed the team’s confusion over Neuville’s fuel system issue and the need to analyze the data. Meanwhile, Neuville’s teammate, Esapekka Lappi, faced his own challenges, including a bizarre incident of his car being struck by two birds, leaving his windscreen shattered and affecting his visibility. Lappi had to navigate through the stage cautiously and seek medical attention due to debris entering his eyes.
