Thierry Neuville thankful for WRC safety protocols...

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Thierry Neuville paid tribute to the World Rally Championship’s security protocols that “saved” himself and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe from harm after a violent crash on the Central European Rally.

The reigning world champion crew had been transferred to hospital for precautionary checks after a nasty crash right into a bridge that was protected by a hay bale. The incident resulted in organisers cancelling stage 15 on Sunday morning.

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Neuville and Wydaeghe had been reported as OK and had been attended to by medical doctors on the scene of the accident. Neuville was taken to hospital by street, whereas Wydaeghe took an emergency helicopter to endure checks. The Hyundai pair had been cleared of any accidents and returned to the service park within the afternoon.

“I’m feeling okay, truthfully, a bit sore in the mean time. Myself and Martijn had fairly an enormous hit however we now have been checked by the ambulance and the folks on the hospital. They’ve achieved an excellent job and we’re each positive,” mentioned Neuville, who had been sitting in seventh previous to the crash.

“Every thing was regular. I simply made a mistake between the bridge and the concrete, there was a small hole. We needed to go quick and I noticed that hole and I went there and I realised it wasn’t there, I turned and we took the bridge in the course of the automotive.

“My mistake. I ought to have been in a position to keep away from that however it’s typically in rallying that the smallest mistake can have the most important penalties. It was a correct shunt however fortunately the automobiles and the protection gear saved us from any accidents.”

Rally organisers managed to place new security measures in place to permit the stage for use once more, previous to the event-ending Energy Stage. Neuville’s team-mate Ott Tanak had a second on the identical nook however managed to take evasive motion.

Reflecting on the incident, Neuville admitted they had been lucky a hay bale had been positioned in entrance of the bridge finish and subsequently praised the work carried out to make sure security at WRC occasions stays paramount.

“That’s a part of the job we now have been doing for years now with the FIA, that’s a part of the job Julien Ingrassia [Sebastien Ogier’s former co-driver] has been concerned in so much during the last 12 months and when he was competing,” Neuville added.

“All co-drivers are continuously giving suggestions as properly after the rallies. In the present day it may have saved lives.”