Joint WRC championship leader (with Sebastien Ogier), Thierry Neuville has been forced to retire from Rally Germany following suspected suspension issues.  The problem happened on the Arena Panzerplatte Superspecial stage, where the rear left hub appeared to shear from the axel.

There was no cosmetic damage to the Hyundai i20.  Neuville’s co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul thinks the problem emanated from a suspension issue.  “It was just a slow junction, a left turn with a cut and we don’t understand what happened”.  “We felt a small touch on the rear axel.  We probably touched something but we don’t understand right now.  It looks like something broke on the suspension”, explained Gilsoul.

With an opportunity to rejoin Rally2 on Sunday, Neuville could score valued ‘power stage bonus points’.