Thierry Neuville, the ever-determined Belgian who has spent years chasing rally glory, finally etched his name into the history books by clinching his first FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) title at the FORUM8 Rally Japan. This landmark achievement comes after a decade of perseverance, heartbreak, and countless near-misses. For the Hyundai Motorsport driver, this victory is more than a championship—it’s a testament to resilience, teamwork, and unyielding ambition.
The 2024 season finale in Japan will be remembered as a rollercoaster of emotions and a showcase of the grit that defines rallying at its core. While Neuville celebrated his hard-earned triumph, Toyota GAZOO Racing sealed the manufacturers’ title in a nail-biting showdown, highlighting the fiercely competitive spirit of this year’s championship.
The Neuville/Wydaeghe triumph: A decade in the making
Neuville’s path to this historic victory was not straightforward. Starting the season with a bang, he dominated Rallye Monte-Carlo, claiming the top step of the podium and setting the tone for the year. From there, the Belgian demonstrated remarkable consistency, securing podiums in nearly every rally. This steady accumulation of points became the foundation for his championship campaign.
However, it wasn’t without challenges. At Rally Japan, Neuville suffered a turbocharger failure on Friday, dropping him to 15th place. Yet, he clawed his way back to finish sixth overall—proving once again his resilience under pressure. The championship was sealed on Sunday morning in dramatic fashion when Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak, the only remaining challenger for the title, crashed out of the lead on the day’s opening stage.
Speaking after his victory, an emotional Neuville reflected, “I am feeling great, to be honest. We worked so long for this. I want to thank everybody who was part of it, who fought for us and all of the team as well. We were many times very close; we always give it our all, but this year we have been rewarded for it.”
This triumph is monumental for Belgian motorsport. Neuville is the first Belgian driver to win the WRC title, bringing a sense of national pride to the small European nation. It also marks Hyundai Motorsport’s maiden drivers’ championship after a decade of competing at the highest level.
Toyota GAZOO Racing’s eighth Manufacturers’ crown
While Neuville celebrated personal glory, the manufacturers’ title was fiercely contested until the very last stage. Toyota GAZOO Racing entered the final day of Rally Japan trailing Hyundai by a narrow margin. Tänak’s retirement on Sunday morning swung the pendulum, and Toyota capitalized with clutch performances from their star-studded lineup.
Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans, and Takamoto Katsuta executed perfectly under pressure, with all three drivers contributing crucial points. Ogier, in particular, played a pivotal role despite suffering a costly wheel change on Friday that ruined his hopes for victory. His recovery drive ensured Toyota snatched the title by just three points—the narrowest margin since 1983, when Lancia edged out Audi by two points.
Reflecting on the season, Toyota team boss Jari-Matti Latvala remarked, “This championship means so much to us. It was a battle until the very last stage, and I am so proud of how the team pulled together. This is the DNA of Toyota—fighting spirit and teamwork.”
Elfyn Evans: The nearly-man, again
Elfyn Evans found himself in the winner’s circle at Rally Japan, inheriting victory after Tänak’s crash. This marked his second win of the season, adding to his Rally Croatia triumph. However, it was bittersweet for the Welshman, as his hopes of a drivers’ title slipped away yet again.
With four runners-up finishes in the drivers’ championship, Evans has cemented his reputation as one of the most consistent drivers in modern WRC. Yet, the elusive title remains out of reach. “It wasn’t looking so good at one point, but we’re very happy with the result and for the team,” he said. “We’ll try again next year.”
Breakthrough performances and rising stars
This season also witnessed the rise of new talents and remarkable comebacks:
- Adrien Fourmaux: The Frenchman capped off his best WRC season to date with a third-place finish in Japan. Driving for M-Sport Ford, Fourmaux demonstrated remarkable consistency, earning five podiums throughout the year. His form has revitalized his career and established him as a future title contender.
- Takamoto Katsuta: The Japanese driver delighted his home crowd with a strong fourth-place finish. Katsuta’s development under Toyota’s mentorship continues to show promise, and his performance in Japan underlined his growing confidence.
- WRC2 Battle: Nikolay Gryazin dominated the WRC2 category in Japan, finishing an impressive seventh overall. However, Sami Pajari’s second-place finish in the rally secured him the WRC2 and WRC2 Challenger titles. Pajari, still in his early 20s, is widely regarded as a future WRC star.
The future of the WRC
As the dust settles on the 2024 season, the WRC is already gearing up for an expanded and thrilling 2025 calendar. The inclusion of new events in Saudi Arabia, Paraguay, and Spain is set to challenge teams and drivers in fresh and demanding environments. The championship kicks off with Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 23 to 26, promising the same adrenaline-fueled action that fans crave.
For Neuville, the future is now. With the monkey off his back and the WRC title finally in hand, the Belgian will undoubtedly aim to defend his crown. For Toyota, Hyundai, and the rising stars of the championship, 2025 offers a chance to rewrite their own narratives.
The WRC remains a sport where anything can happen—and in 2024, that unpredictability was on full display. As the championship evolves, its mix of heritage, cutting-edge technology, and raw human emotion ensures it will continue to captivate fans worldwide.
Stay tuned to HHRally.com for in-depth coverage of the 2025 season and beyond. From breaking news to exclusive driver insights, we bring you the pulse of the World Rally Championship.
WRC FORUM8 Rally Japan Final Results
01: Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) – 3h 23m 41.0s
02: Sébastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) + 01m 27.3s
03: Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID) + 01m 55.5s
04: Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) + 02m 02.6s
05: Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID) + 03m 11.5s
06: Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) + 06m 54.1s
07: Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov (Citroën C3 Rally2) + 10m 04.3s
08: Sami Pajari/Enni Mälkönen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) + 11m 50.8s
09: Hiroki Arai/Shunsuke Matsuo (Škoda Fabia R5) + 13m 24.3s
10: Gus Greensmith/Jonas Andersson (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) + 14m 15.8s
2024 FIA World Rally Championship for Drivers
01: Thierry Neuville – 242 points
02: Elfyn Evans – 210
03: Ott Tänak – 200
04: Sébastien Ogier – 191
05: Adrien Fourmaux – 162
06: Takamoto Katsuta – 116
07: Kalle Rovanperä – 114
08: Gregoire Munster – 46
09: Dani Sordo – 44
10: Sami Pajari – 44
2024 FIA World Rally Championship for Manufacturers
01: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team – 561 points
02: Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team – 558 points
03: M-Sport Ford World Rally Team – 295
