Neuville laughing all the way to the bank

6th November 2011

By Anthony Peacock

Belgian driver Thierry Neuville is 40,000 Euros richer after winning the Golden Stage Rally in Cyprus, which consists of just two runs over a mixed-surface stage shown live on Eurosport.

Neuville went fastest through the first run of the 19.43-kilometre test by 4.8s before heading the second run by 1.2s despite almost going off the road in his efforts to keep ahead of Juho Hanninen, who finished second, 6.0s adrift of the rising star on aggregate time.

The Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg driver’s success meant that he pocketed 40,000 Euros in prize money. Hanninen, in a factory Skoda Fabia S2000, collected 28,000 Euros with team-mate Jan Kopecky securing 16,000 Euros for finishing third.

“We went completely flat out and I really enjoyed the Golden Stage,” said Neuville, who was co-driven by fellow Belgian Nicolas Gilsoul. “It’s a shame we lost the Cyprus Rally but we are in front again and we showed we’ve got the pace on gravel. I have to thank Peugeot Sport and Peugeot Belgium for their support in getting me here.”

 Neuville completed the first run with the left-rear tyre off its rim after he clouted a bank, the result of his pacenotes being too optimistic. He was similarly spectacular on the second pass with several sideways moments. “We pushed to the maximum when we saw that Juho was equal with us on split times,” added Neuville. “It was a big attack but we got to the finish and I’m really happy.”