Neuville's Title Hopes Diminish at Central European Rally

Thierry Neuville's chances of claiming his first FIA World Rally Championship title took a significant blow at the Central European Rally as he dropped from first to fourth place after two off-road incidents. Starting the day with a 6.4-second lead, Neuville struggled with the challenging conditions, ultimately losing nearly 40 seconds after getting stuck in a drainage ditch. This setback allowed eight-time champion Sébastien Ogier to reclaim the lead, with Ott Tänak and Elfyn Evans close behind. Neuville needs to outscore Tänak by two points to secure the championship before the final round in Japan next month. Despite the disappointment, Neuville remains optimistic, stating, "the rally isn't over and tomorrow is an exciting day." The final stages of the rally are set to unfold on Sunday.