Following retirements from Toyota drivers Evans, Ogier, and Solberg, a remarkable recovery appeared within reach for Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe. A mid-day service from Hyundai Motorsport, which replaced gearboxes, clutches, and suspensions on all three i20N cars in just half an hour, positioned the duo for a potential breakthrough.
Neuville, having overcome a difficult morning and sitting second in the general classification heading into the afternoon stages, was forced to pull his car off the course after approximately ten kilometers in Stage 14 (Soysambu, 24.94 km).
Neuville’s Rally Hopes Dashed After Stage 14 Retirement A promising rally run turned sour for Thierry Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe on Saturday, March 14, 2026, as they were forced to retire from Stage 14 of the event. The setback came after a stunning service effort by the Hyundai Motorsport team during the midday break. The Hyundai team impressively replaced the gearboxes, clutches, and suspensions on all three of their i20N cars within a remarkable 30-minute window, revitalizing Neuville’s chances after a challenging start to the day. Neuville had battled back to second place overall as the afternoon stages began, appearing poised to capitalize on the retirements of several Toyota drivers – including Evans, Ogier, and Solberg – earlier in the rally. However, just ten kilometers into the 24.94 km Soysambu stage, Neuville was forced to withdraw his car from competition. The retirement significantly impacts the overall standings and the team’s strategy as the rally progresses.
