The Hyundai driver has led the championship since profitable the Monte Carlo season opener and a 12 months of constant outcomes has saved him on the entrance regardless of solely two victories.
However with solely 60 factors left accessible, Tanak requires one thing vital over the following two rounds to beat Neuville, who simply wants to increase his benefit past 30 this weekend.
So the title could also be clinched on the Central European Rally. In that case, that might make it two consecutive years by which it has determined the championship, as final 12 months Kalle Rovanpera – who has solely contested seven of 11 rounds in 2024 – claimed back-to-back crowns with second within the rally.
He completed 57.6s behind Neuville, so the 36-year-old has good kind on the occasion which made its WRC debut final 12 months.
It additionally made historical past changing into the primary WRC spherical to host phases in three international locations because the Central European Rally is unfold throughout the Czech Republic, Austria and Germany.
Whereas Neuville seems to be set to clinch his maiden drivers’ crown, the producers’ championship is far tighter and needs to be determined on the season finale in Japan.
Hyundai leads defending champions Toyota by 17 factors regardless of the Japanese outfit claiming three extra victories this season.
However not like Toyota, Hyundai has claimed top-five finishes at each spherical whereas not struggling a double retirement like its rival did in Finland.
In third is M-Sport, who sit 220 factors behind Toyota however the British squad has contested a lot of the season with solely two points-scoring vehicles in comparison with three for its rivals.
When is the 2024 Central European Rally?
The 2024 Central European Rally formally begins on Thursday 17 October at 1pm in the UK and 2pm native time within the Prague district of Hradcany within the Czech Republic.
Earlier on Thursday, nevertheless, is shakedown at 8:30am BST which provides groups and drivers the chance to check totally different automotive set-ups forward of the rally.
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8:30am BST/9:30am native time |
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2:05pm BST/3:05pm native time |
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7:02am BST/8:02am native time |
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3:14pm BST/4:14pm native time |
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6:58am BST/7:58am native time |
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1:28pm BST/2:28pm native time |
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8:11am BST/9:11am native time |
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12:15pm BST/1:15pm native time |
How can I watch the WRC?
TNT Sports activities is the official WRC broadcast holder within the UK, that means it has stay televised each spherical of the championship thus far and can proceed to take action till the top of the 12 months.
So, a subscription is required to look at the WRC within the UK. TNT Sports activities is out there from £20 monthly, a value that features all 4 sport channels, Eurosport 1 and a pair of, in addition to its live-streaming platform Discovery+.
The WRC can be accessible by way of Rally.television, which presents two offers to new clients: an annual subscription for £119.99 or a month-to-month move at £12.99.
How can I watch the 2024 Central European Rally?
TNT Sports activities will begin its Central European Rally protection on Thursday 17 October at 8:30am BST for shakedown. That’s the first of 4 programmes from TNT that day, with it returning at 12:15pm BST for the ceremonial begin forward of the opening two phases.
The community will subsequently broadcast each second of the weekend, however TNT shall be on-and-off with its protection relying on the beginning time for every stage. So, the periods are broadcast throughout the totally different TNT channels.
This weekend’s rally will also be watched by way of Rally.television, which shall be on and off with its protection as nicely.
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Ceremonial begin – Stage 1 |
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How can I watch the 2024 Central European Rally highlights?
TNT Sports activities will broadcast varied 30-minute spotlight programmes of the Central European Rally weekend, beginning at 12:15am BST (TNT Sports activities 4) on Saturday 19 October. TNT Sports activities 1 may also broadcast an hour-long WRC Evaluation programme at 8pm on Monday 21 October, which seems to be again on the weekend’s motion.
Autosport may also have day by day highlights of the motion, in addition to the official WRC platforms which add clips all through the weekend.
What’s the route for the 2024 Central European Rally?
The 2024 Central European Rally can have 18 particular phases protecting a complete aggressive distance of 187.97 miles. Drivers will first deal with the Czech Republic leg starting with Prague, the place the rally will begin with an excellent particular stage of 1.58 miles across the metropolis’s outskirts.
A 7.32-mile run of Klatovy will end Thursday’s motion earlier than the Czech city – which is roughly 81.34 miles from Prague – opens Friday as nicely. It’s an early begin on Friday, a day that options six phases of two an identical loops as following Klatovy is Strasin (16.58 miles) and Sumavske Hostice (10.47 miles) and people three phases shall be repeated within the afternoon.
The rally will depart the Czech Republic on Saturday for a day that additionally options six phases of two an identical loops. It begins in south-eastern Germany for 12.46 miles of Granit und Wald, earlier than crossing over to Austria for a ‘Past Borders’ stage which is 15.12 miles in size that includes a 248-metre distinction between the best and lowest elevation. Each loops will then end with a ten.78-mile run close to the north Austrian city of Scharding.
Germany then hosts the remainder of the rally, as Sunday commences with 7.56 miles of Am Hochwald which holds phases 15 and 17. Phases 16 and 18, often known as the Energy Stage, are held near the German metropolis of Passau as drivers will deal with 9.24 miles for each runs to complete the weekend.
How can Thierry Neuville clinch the 2024 WRC title on the Central European Rally?
The brand new-for-2024 WRC factors system means it’s much less simple to work out what Neuville must do to clinch the championship.
That’s as a result of on a number of events, a driver has truly scored extra factors than a rival who completed in entrance.
So this 12 months, the value of every ending place has not been as black and white as earlier seasons.
However successfully, Neuville must outscore Tanak by two or extra factors to change into world champion for the primary time this weekend – one thing he has performed for 2 of the previous three rallies.
The WRC factors system is damaged down into three components. A sliding scale of 18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1 is awarded on the finish of Saturday for the highest 10 crews, with 7-6-5-4-3- 2-1 then given the next day whereas the Energy Stage presents bonus factors of 5-4-3-2-1 to the 5 quickest vehicles.
Nevertheless, a crew will solely rating factors on Saturday if it finishes on Sunday and in circumstances the place it doesn’t, Saturday factors shall be awarded to the following best-placed pairing. This factors system was launched to enhance leisure on the ultimate day as beforehand, drivers usually contested phases at a decreased tempo to protect tyres for the Energy Stage.
However the brand new system has decreased the significance of a victory and Ogier even claimed in August that it has devalued the championship.