“Diversity is what makes the ADAC Rallye Deutschland so attractive.”

• Interview with last year’s winner, Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville, about the German FIA WRC event.

Munich/Trier, 24 July 2015 – He has been one of the best FIA WRC pilots for years: Thierry Neuville. In 2013, the Belgian driver was already a regular guest on the WRC podium and finished the season as Vice Champion. However, Neuville had to wait until the 2014 ADAC Rallye Deutschland to achieve his first victory: Winning the German FIA WRC event last year, he also celebrated the first WRC victory of the Hyundai Shell World Rally team.

The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is special to him, not just because of last year’s victory: Thierry Neuville hails from Hünningen near Sankt Vith in Belgium’s German-speaking community, which is very close to the rally region. The Waxweiler Special Stage virtually runs “past his doorstep”. Consequently, Neuville can count on the support of numerous Belgian and German fans. We talked to last year’s winner before the upcoming start of the 2015 ADAC Rallye Deutschland.

Mr Neuville, what are your expectations for this year’s edition of the German FIA WRC event? Will you be able to repeat last year’s success?
Thierry Neuville: “We will prepare really well and start with the right amount of confidence. Of course, Volkswagen will be very strong again and Citroën is also very fast on asphalt. In 2014 though, we kept up well in our Hyundai i20 WRC and achieved some fastest times. Another podium position is possible here this year. Outright victory will be difficult, but we should never lose sight of it.”

At the 2014 ADAC Rallye Deutschland you proved to be a winner. Has the pressure on you increased since?
Thierry Neuville: “Not necessarily. Everyone’s expecting us to be among the best again this year, but in 2014 we did benefit a little from the leading teams dropping out. It is essential for us to stay focussed on our goal of achieving a top result. With a consistent performance and good results, a podium spot is definitely feasible.”

After six consecutive rallies on gravel, the rally cars are returning to asphalt in Germany. How difficult is it for the entire team to adapt to the new surface?
Thierry Neuville: “This change is primarily a challenge for the pilots and co-pilots, because cars behave differently on asphalt and on gravel. It’s really two completely different things. It always takes some time to adapt to the new surface, but then you quickly get the right feel again.”

How would you explain to a non-professional the difference between asphalt and gravel?
Thierry Neuville: “The cars behave completely diffderently in everything. On gravel the suspension setup is very soft, whereas on asphalt the ride tends to be rather stiff and the tyres have much more grip. You might say it’s a bit like switching a limousine for a kart. Anyone who’s ever driven a kart should be able to relate to that.”

They say the ADAC Rallye Deutschland is a very exacting WRC event and quite a challenge for the teams. What particular challenges does it present and what makes it especially attractive?
Thierry Neuville: “The ADAC Rallye Deutschland is a really beautiful and very diverse rally. It presents many different conditions: First of all, there are the narrow vineyard sections with their many turns that require you to shift down to first gear and then accelerate again. And then, of course, there is the Panzerplatte in the Baumholder military range which takes both teams and vehicles to the limits. Choosing the right tyres is extremely important here – especially in difficult weather conditions.”

The notorious Panzerplatte offers rally fans an unparalleled live experience. This year, there will be a total of five Special Stages there. How much of the excitement of the many fans and the stunning atmosphere at the military range does actually get through to you in the car?
Thierry Neuville: “When the Panzerplatte hosted the Sprints for the first time in 2014, we had the opportunity to actually enjoy the atmosphere before the start of the Special Stages. Especially at the intersections, which we drivers pass several times, there is always a lot going on. And, of course, I have seen the flags of the many Belgian fans there who come to Germany each year to give us their support. In the Special Stages themselves we are fully focused though.”

The Waxweiler Special Stage runs pretty close to your home country of Belgium. Your schedule is probably too tight for a short visit back home, but will your friends and family be there to cheer you on in person? Will that increase the pressure?
Thierry Neuville: “My family and my fan club will keep their fingers crossed for me there again this year. Due to the proximity to my home country, there will certainly be more Belgian fans there than at the other events. For me it is good motivation rather than additional pressure.”

Safety plays an important role at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. There is a video of you giving the fans some valuable tips. What advice do you have for the spectators in terms of safety?
Thierry Neuville: “Especially at the Special Stages in the vineyards, it is enormously important for the spectators to obey the safety rules, because visibility is extremely reduced for us drivers on these narrow sections. If the fans keep to the marked-out paths and the allowed spectator areas, there will be no problem. ADAC is really doing a great job here. As a general recommendation, I would suggest that spectators should find out before their visit what is allowed, and where, and what isn’t. All the relevant information is actually available at the ADAC Rallye Deutschland website.

(Editors’ note: to watch Thierry Neuville’s safety video, go to “Zuschauer” and click on “Sicherheitshinweise” at www.adac-rallye-deutschland.de)

Your brother, Yannick, is also participating in the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. He is starting in the ADAC OPEL Rallye Cup featured at the German event of the FIA WRC. You already have plenty of experience, but how important is a platform such as the ADAC OPEL Rallye Cup for young talent, and are you watching your brother’s rallies?
Thierry Neuville: “The ADAC OPEL Rallye Cup is a very good platform for young talented drivers to gain a foothold in rallying. My brother is really enjoying the Cup and he is keeping our family of motor sports enthusiasts on their toes. I try to be there personally at my brother’s rallies as often as I can. Otherwise, I watch them on-line. And I must confess: Sometimes it’s fun watching a rally instead of sitting in the car.”

Get your pre-sales rally pass now!
The pre-sale for the 2015 ADAC Rallye Deutschland is in full swing. Rally passes/vouchers are available for €69.00 (€64.00 for ADAC members) at http://shop.rallye-deutschland.de. Along with the pass, you can pre-order the official rally magazine at an extra €5.00. If you order your rally pass in advance, you will be given exclusive and free access for one month to the WRC+ web and app platform.

The rally pass at a glance
The rally pass is the universal fan ticket to the entire four-day event of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland. It provides access to the Shakedown and to all spectator areas along the Special Stages. The pass also includes admission to the Service Park. It offers numerous attractions to the fans. And it is the hub of the event, its beating heart. Here, they can watch the mechanics at work, admire the WRC stars along with their rally cars and obtain their autographs.

The passes include:

• All Special Stages on all days
• Access to the Service Park on all days
• Access to the Shakedown on Thursday
• A spectator map providing all the essential information about the rally
• An ADAC Rallye Deutschland pass lanyard
• An ADAC Rallye Deutschland sticker

2015 ADAC Rallye Deutschland information:
The ADAC Rallye Deutschland has a unique world-wide reputation. Its mix of hairpin stages in the Moselle vineyards, tough tracks on the Baumholder tank range and fast asphalt roads presents extreme challenges for both teams and drivers. This mix requires excellent driving skills and versatility. Diversity, high-class action and closeness to the fans are the ingredients that make the ADAC Rallye Deutschland such an attractive package for spectators as well. Year after year, this major event draws enthusiastic crowds from all over Europe, giving it a special, international atmosphere.

The ADAC Rally Hub: Up-to-date information at your fingertips!
The ADAC Rally Hub is the official on-line communication tool of the ADAC Rallye Deutschland, reporting live from the German FIA WRC event around the clock. At www.rallyehub.de, fans will find almost any information from the social media channels, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Youtube on one central page. In addition to current news from the WRC and ADAC Rallye Deutschland, comprehensive coverage of the ADAC Rallye Masters and the Deutsche Rallye Meisterschaft DRM is the core element of the new ADAC Rallye Hub.