Thierry Neuville’s team boss Marc van Dalen believes his driver can up his pace on Barum Czech Raly Zlín after completing the first five stages of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge qualifier in seventh overall, 47.0s behind leader Jan Kopecký.
Neuville, the winner of May’s Tour de Corse-E.Leclerc, had been expected to run closer to the front in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000.
“Thierry’s car is like Guy Wilks’s car [and Guy is in third],” said van Dalen. “He’s told me he is not so happy with his pacenotes. Perhaps he is on too much attack and this can mean the result is not there. The most important is that he changes his mind and understands it is like this and he has to stay calm and he can be better in the second pass. He needs some more time because this rally is only the second time for him and it’s not an easy rally.”