Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg driver Thierry Neuville says that he is mystified by the accident at the end of the first special stage that put him out of Rallye Monte-Carlo earlier today.
“The end of the stage was quite dirty, with gravel on the road from the cars that had passed before,” explained Neuville afterwards. “Less than three kilometres from the finish, there was a little bridge, with a tight corner just before it. When I braked, nothing happened and the pedal went to the floor. I tried to pull the handbrake but that was slow to react as well. The side of the car hit the bridge and both right wheels became detached. I feel more than just disappointed now: I’m absolutely devastated.”
Kronos Racing team principal Marc van Dalen has promised a full investigation into the cause of the accident. “We’ll look at all the parts and data once the car is back at service and try to understand exactly what happened,” he said.
With no SupeRally allowed in Monte Carlo, Neuville was forced to retire from the event.
Neuville, who is backed by the Belgian motorsport federation and is entering his second year in the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, completed just 34 kilometres of Rallye Monte-Carlo before his sudden exit.