Belgian driver Thierry Neuville, competing in a Hyundai I20 Rally1, took the lead after Friday’s stage of the Central European Rally, the 12th round of the World Rally Championship (WRC). In the WRC2 category, Polish driver Mikołaj Marczyk secured third place, while his compatriot Kajetan Kajetanowicz is currently in fourth. The rally, held across the roads of the Czech Republic, Austria, and Germany, features 18 special stages covering a total of 302.5 km.
Neuville Eyes First World Title
Neuville, aiming for his first-ever world title, currently holds a 29-point lead in the overall standings over Estonian Ott Tanak, who trails him by just 7.8 seconds in the Central European Rally. Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion, is in second place, just 6.4 seconds behind Neuville. If Neuville’s lead over Tanak extends to 31 points by the end of this round, he could clinch the title before the season finale in Japan this November.
Polish Drivers Competing Strongly in WRC2
In WRC2, Nikolay Gryazin leads with Marczyk in third, trailing by 1:05.4 minutes, while Kajetanowicz sits fourth with a 1:23.6 minute gap. Marczyk, who finished third in the European Championship this year, is competing as a guest in the WRC round. Meanwhile, Kajetanowicz continues his quest for the Challenger title as the season heads toward its final rounds.
