Van Dalen backs Neuville to recover lost time

Kronos Racing boss Marc van Dalen insists that his driver Thierry Neuville still has a strong chance to win Rallye Sanremo, round nine of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which concludes on the Italian Riviera later today (Saturday).

Neuville, in his Team Peugeot Belgium-Luxembourg-entered 207 Super 2000, started Friday’s night stage 5.4s off the lead but completed the 44-kilometre Ronde test 16.6s in arrears after a lack of braking power resulted in a momentary loss of confidence.

Van Dalen, whose Belgian team also manages the Peugeot UK entry of Guy Wilks, said he still has high hopes for his young charge Neuville.

“Everything is still possible,” said van Dalen. “In Hungary he was 16 seconds behind with three stages to go and made up that time before the end. For sure he has to finish but he needs to push because Bryan [Bouffier] is not far behind. Although the level of the leaders is high I believe he can make up that time.”

Of Neuville’s braking woes on stage seven, van Dalen explained: “Thierry uses a lot the left foot for braking and after half distance [in Ronde] his brakes were not so good and he lost confidence. That was his only problem.”