Thierry Neuville

Belgian WRC champion, first Belgian to win the drivers' title.

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Thierry Jean Neuville (born 16 June 1988) is a Belgian rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship for Hyundai Motorsport. He finished as runner-up five times (2013, 2016–2019) and won his maiden drivers' world title in 2024, becoming the first Belgian to win the driver's championship. He helped Hyundai win their first manufacturers' title in 2019, and repeated the feat in 2020. His current co-driver is compatriot Martijn Wydaeghe.

Quick Facts

Nationality: Belgian
Wrc world championship: 2021
Primary manufacturer (wrc era): Hyundai Motorsport
Co-driver: Nicolas Gilsoul
Rally car number: 12
Hometown: Spa, Belgium

Lore & Background

Born in St. Vith, Neuville started rallying in 2007. Between 2009 and 2011 he competed in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge; in 2009 he made his World Rally Championship debut at the Rally Catalunya and in 2010 he competed in the Junior World Rally Championship. He was signed by the Citroën Junior Team and made his World Rally Car debut in 2012. In 2013, driving for the Qatar World Rally Team, he was a surprise runner-up in the championship, having scored his first podiums. When Hyundai Motorsport re-entered the sport in 2014, they signed Neuville as their lead driver. He won his first WRC event, and Hyundai's first, at the 2014 Rallye Deutschland. He finished runner-up in the drivers' championship from 2016 to 2019. In total, Neuville has won 22 world rallies, all for Hyundai. He has won events on asphalt, gravel, and snow, winning the Rally Sweden in 2018.

Reader's Guide

Neuville's early career included winning the 2008 Royal Automobil Club of Belgium Rally Contest and the 2009 Citroën Rally Trophy Belux. He made his IRC debut in 2009 at the Ypres Rally. In 2010, he drove a self-entered Citroën C2 S1600 in the Junior WRC, winning one event in Bulgaria. He also drove a Peugeot 207 S2000 in the IRC, achieving a career-best third at the 2010 Ypres Rally. In 2011, he continued with Peugeot Bel-Lux in the IRC, winning the Tour de Corse and Rallye Sanremo, finishing fifth in the standings. In 2012, he drove a Citroën DS3 WRC for the Citroën Junior Team, with a best result of fourth in France. In 2013, he drove a Ford Fiesta RS WRC for Qatar, scoring a fifth place in Sweden.