IRC points the target for Peugeot’s Neuville

Thierry Neuville says scoring points on Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Inglés will be his sole priority when the Intercontinental Rally Challenge resumes on the Atlantic archipelago this week.

Neuville, who will drive a Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg 207 Super 2000 alongside new co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul, crashed out of January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo. He is determined to make up lost ground on the Las Palmas-based event, where he began his 2010 IRC bid.

“I must be at the finish and score some points,” said the 22-year-old Belgian. “My times were quite good here last year, even though I hadn’t quite mastered the technique of driving the 207 S2000. I recently took part a test organised by Peugeot Sport and I profited from the presence of the engineers to find a set-up in which I feel confident. If the handling is the same this weekend, I think we will be competitive.”

Neuville placed ninth in last year’s IRC drivers’ standings. His best result in the series remains the third place on recorded on the Geko Ypres Rally in June 2010.