Belgium’s Thierry Neuville secured his maiden FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) title at FORUM8 Rally Japan, while Toyota GAZOO Racing clinched the manufacturers’ crown after a nail-biting finale.
After years of perseverance and near-misses, Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe celebrated their historic triumph on a dramatic final day. Neuville’s championship was secured when Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak, the only driver who could challenge him, crashed out during Sunday’s opening stage. With a 25-point lead heading into the season finale, Neuville’s title was guaranteed with four stages to spare.
“This feels incredible,” said Neuville. “We’ve worked so long for this. It’s been a journey filled with challenges, but today, all the hard work has paid off. Thank you to everyone who supported us and believed in this moment.”
Despite battling a turbocharger issue that dropped him to 15th on Friday, Neuville fought back to finish sixth overall, marking a significant milestone for Belgium and Hyundai Motorsport as the team’s first drivers’ title in WRC history.
Toyota’s Triumph in the Manufacturers’ Championship
While Neuville celebrated his personal victory, the manufacturers’ battle delivered its own drama. Hyundai held the lead heading into the final day, but Tänak’s retirement tipped the scales in Toyota’s favor. Stellar performances from Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta on the Wolf Power Stage secured Toyota its eighth WRC manufacturers’ crown by just three points — the closest margin since 1983.
Evans capped off the season in style, inheriting the Rally Japan win after Tänak’s crash. The Welshman’s victory, his second of the year, also secured him second place in the drivers’ championship.
A Competitive Season Ends with New Faces on the Podium
The season finale also highlighted the rising stars of WRC. Adrien Fourmaux’s consistent performance earned him third place, his fifth podium finish of 2024, while Grégoire Munster and Katsuta rounded out the top five.
In WRC2, Nikolay Gryazin took the category win, but Sami Pajari secured the championship with a strong second-place finish. The Finn’s remarkable season saw him claim both the WRC2 and WRC2 Challenger titles.
2025 WRC Season: Expanded Calendar and Fresh Challenges
As the 2024 season concludes, the excitement builds for 2025, featuring new events in Saudi Arabia, Paraguay, and Spain. The WRC action returns at Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 23–26, promising another year of thrilling battles on the world’s toughest rally stages.
Final Rally Japan Classification:
- Elfyn Evans / S. Martin – Toyota GR Yaris – 3h 23m 41.0s
- Sébastien Ogier / V. Landais – Toyota GR Yaris – +1m 27.3s
- Adrien Fourmaux / A. Coria – Ford Puma – +1m 55.5s
Drivers’ Championship Standings (2024):
- Thierry Neuville – 242pts
- Elfyn Evans – 210pts
- Ott Tänak – 200pts
Manufacturers’ Championship Standings (2024):
- Toyota GAZOO Racing – 561pts
- Hyundai Shell Mobis – 558pts
- M-Sport Ford – 295pts
Source: FIA / WRC
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
