Praise for Neuville from Peugeot head

Stéphane Le Guevel, the Director of Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg, says Thierry Neuville’s maiden Intercontinental Rally Challenge success on Tour de Corse-E.Leclerc last week was the perfect payback for the support the importer has invested in the 22-year-old rising talent.

Neuville won eight of the 14 stages on his way to a standout success in his Peugeot 207 Super 2000 alongside co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul.

“I’m very pleased for Thierry and Nicolas,” said Le Geuvel. “They’ve rewarded us in the best possible way for the faith that we have in them. In 2010, we chose to place our bets on a young driver in order to help him climb the career ladder. His first season was all about learning. For 2011 our objective was to see Thierry on the podium a few times, but we never dared to think that his first victory could come so soon, particularly on territory as demanding as Corsica.

“I’d like to congratulate not only Thierry and Nicolas but also the whole Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg team, starting with the engineers and mechanics from Kronos Racing, who built a perfect and faultless car.”

Neuville’s success in Corsica means he becomes the second Belgian driver to win the island rally after Gilberte Thirion won the inaugural event back in 1955.