How Thierry Neuville’s WRC co-driver ready for Rally Estonia at Goodwood

Should you peeked via the window of Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N World Rally Championship automotive final weekend on the Goodwood Competition Pace, you wouldn’t have seen the reigning world champion carrying his orange rimmed spectacles.

As an alternative, it was one other Belgian, albeit a well-known face, in Neuville’s world championship profitable co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe sat behind the wheel of the WRC weapon. Usually Wydaeghe is armed together with his pacenote e-book, pencil and stopwatches, however for as soon as these have been put apart and the driving gloves have been firmly on for a uncommon alternative, simply days earlier than spherical eight of the championship in Estonia this week.

“The group requested me a couple of weeks in the past [if I would like to drive the car at Goodwood] and I didn’t hesitate too lengthy really,” Wydaeghe informed Motorsport.com. “It’s a good alternative only for enjoyable. Out of competitors I hope to do these sort of issues as I’m captivated with rally, so when you might have this chance you can’t say no.”

It isn’t unparalleled for co-drivers to drive WRC automobiles on highway sections throughout rallies however extraordinarily uncommon to see them bounce behind the wheel to sort out rally phases. For Wydaeghe, who has been Neuville’s navigator since 2021, the 32-year-old had by no means pushed the i20 N Rally1 on a highway part not to mention a stage earlier than final weekend. The Belgian and eight-time WRC rally winner didn’t go into Goodwood Competition of Pace fully blind having piloted Hyundai’s earlier era WRC automotive – the i20 Coupe – at Rally Legend in San Marino two years in the past, with driver and Hyundai team-mate Dani Sordo within the passenger seat.

At Goodwood, Wydaeghe discovered himself thrusted into the driving force seat, joined by company within the passenger’s spot able to be thrilled by the sheer energy and brute drive of a WRC automotive across the slender and slippery Hannu Mikkola-designed 1.5-mile gravel rally stage. Earlier than leaping within the driver’s seat Neuville had not less than proven Wydaeghe how one can begin the automotive.

“I haven’t given him any recommendation in any respect. On a current take a look at I confirmed him the beginning button and that’s it,” Neuville mentioned.

Wydaeghe added: “No [there was little advice], he [Thierry] was making me scared. It is rather low grip and you can’t make a mistake, so I believe when he sees an image of the again [of the car featuring some dents] he’ll snicker a bit bit.

“I attempted to organize pretty much as good as attainable however in case you are not used to driving this automotive [it is difficult]. I haven’t even pushed it on a highway part as another co-drivers have, so while you uncover 400 horsepower on a small stage it’s regular that you’re a little bit nervous.”

However there was little for Wydaeghe to be apprehensive about. A detailed inspection of the i20 N’s rear bumpers revealed proof of some over-exuberance and shut calls with the inviting haybales that lined a lot of the stage. However, to the 1000’s of onlookers, all they’d have seen is the orange and blue i20 N Rally1 flash by and kick up mud in spectacular vogue. However what was it prefer to ditch the pacenotes for the steering wheel and pedals?

“The rally stage could be very difficult, it is extremely slender and really slippery, so in case you are not used to driving a rally automotive that’s one factor, however to drive a Rally1 automotive is one other degree. I used to be actually stunned by the low grip and you may really feel that with the rear of the automotive. I used to be utilizing the hay bales a bit to make the turns, however aside from that every part was going very easy,” defined Wydaeghe.

Whereas this was a possibility to have enjoyable and benefit from the feeling of piloting the current-specification of WRC monster, a day behind the wheel delivered a brand new perspective for the talents required to wheel these automobiles via the world’s hardest roads. Wydaeghe has sat via numerous phases delivering pacenotes stuffed with info at a mesmerising tempo. He’s felt the sheer eye-watering acceleration and braking forces the automotive produces and the intense situations contained in the cabin. However in the case of driving, Wydaeghe says Neuville and his contemporaries are superhuman.

“My respect for the WRC drivers and particularly Thierry is wonderful, it’s the prime of the highest. It is just while you do it your self you uncover how tough it’s,” he added.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Workforce Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photograph by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

“Should you take a look at what they’ll do on these quick and technical phases in all types of situations, I actually must take my hat off to them. That is while you keep in mind that you want lots of expertise and exhausting work to get to that degree. I might be completely satisfied to be again on the best aspect of the automotive again in Rally Estonia, as that’s the place I belong.”

It is perhaps some time earlier than we see Wydaeghe within the driver seat of the i20 N Rally1 automotive once more, however there’s most undoubtedly a need to proceed driving – simply not in a aggressive sense.

“I benefit from the driving when it’s out of competitors or an indication occasion like Goodwood,” he mentioned. “I’ve zero ambition to be knowledgeable driver however there are two issues I undoubtedly need to do in my life and it’s Monte Carlo Historic as a driver for the expertise and to find the phases they did prior to now. And my dwelling occasion Ypres Rally, which was additionally the place I bought my first win in WRC [in 2021]. If in the future I’ve a possibility to do that rally as a zero automotive or course automotive I’d love to try this.”

This week Wydaeghe will decide up the pacenote e-book, pencil, highway books and stopwatches once more to organize for what might be an important spherical for the reigning world champions’, as they give the impression of being to ignite their WRC title defence. Will or not it’s tough to recollect which aspect of the automotive to leap in?

“It could be an excellent joke to play making an attempt to get within the driver’s seat in Estonia!” Wydaeghe smiles.