TORSBY, Sweden: Thierry Neuville was just 60km from a Rally Sweden triumph Saturday but remained wary after throwing away victory from a similar commanding position at the Monte Carlo season-opener last month.
The Belgian Hyundai driver built up a commanding 43.3sec lead over Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala in a Toyota ahead of Sunday’s final day on the ice-hardened Swedish tracks.
However, Neuville won’t get carried away having also led in Monte Carlo on the Saturday night only for a costly error caused him to hand victory to world champion Sebastien Ogier instead.
“I tried to control, but I didn’t get too much pleasure. It’s very delicate as we all know what happened in Monte Carlo,” said Neuville who will be seeking a fourth career win on Sunday.
“Anything can still happen so we really have to be careful.”
Estonia’a Ott Tanak and M-Sport/Ford teammate Ogier were third and fourth respectively Saturday at 47.6sec and 1 minute 5sec off the lead.
One of Saturday’s stages — the 12th — was canceled with safety in mind.
At Monte Carlo, a fan died following an accident involving Hyundai’s New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon.
“It’s never good news to have a stage canceled, but I understand,” said Ogier.
Tanak won three stages in the morning before Neuville claimed two in the afternoon.
It was a day to forget for British driver Kris Meeke who was sitting fifth overall before he lost control of his Citroen and ended up in the trees.
He lost more than eight minutes as a result.
The Belgian Hyundai driver built up a commanding 43.3sec lead over Finland’s Jari-Matti Latvala in a Toyota ahead of Sunday’s final day on the ice-hardened Swedish tracks.
However, Neuville won’t get carried away having also led in Monte Carlo on the Saturday night only for a costly error caused him to hand victory to world champion Sebastien Ogier instead.
“I tried to control, but I didn’t get too much pleasure. It’s very delicate as we all know what happened in Monte Carlo,” said Neuville who will be seeking a fourth career win on Sunday.
“Anything can still happen so we really have to be careful.”
Estonia’a Ott Tanak and M-Sport/Ford teammate Ogier were third and fourth respectively Saturday at 47.6sec and 1 minute 5sec off the lead.
One of Saturday’s stages — the 12th — was canceled with safety in mind.
At Monte Carlo, a fan died following an accident involving Hyundai’s New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon.
“It’s never good news to have a stage canceled, but I understand,” said Ogier.
Tanak won three stages in the morning before Neuville claimed two in the afternoon.
It was a day to forget for British driver Kris Meeke who was sitting fifth overall before he lost control of his Citroen and ended up in the trees.
He lost more than eight minutes as a result.
