The world champion feels hanging dust could be a problem in Sardinia if gaps between cars aren't extended
Photography by Hyundai
Words by Luke Barry
World champion Thierry Neuville wants four-minute gaps between Rally1 cars for this weekend’s Rally Italy Sardinia – but is sympathetic to the “mess” that could create for the organizers.
Each Rally1 car starts three minutes apart from one another on WRC events, unless there’s any specific circumstances that dictate otherwise such as gentleman drivers like Jourdan Serderidis, who typically starts four minutes before the car behind him.
But Hyundai’s Neuville is concerned three minutes will not be enough time for dust to clear from the vision of drivers, particularly on Friday.
Neuville told DirtFish: “I am a bit worried about the dust at the end of stage two. So I’m pretty sure that we will see some problems and hopefully we will be able to react before we head into disaster.”
Neuville confirmed he has “already raised the concern, so we have to wait what will be done.”
He added: “We all know what’s the situation. We all know what can happen. But they do know very well that we have nothing in our hands, really, other than raising the potential risks.
“They know that we will have to jump in the car [regardless of the gaps between cars]. They know that we will have to go. And that’s it. I cannot just park the car somewhere and wait.”
Neuville’s championship rivals Ott Tänak and current points leader Elfyn Evans both agreed four-minute gaps would be sensible, although a shorter one would play into the hands of Evans who starts Friday’s stages first on the road.
“I won’t push [to keep three-minute gaps],” Evans told DirtFish.
“I don’t think anybody really wants to drive in dust but of course a bit of dust would help our case, let’s say. But let’s see.”
Neuville however feels this is a clear safety issue and that should take precedence, but was sympathetic towards the organizers who have planned the itinerary around cars being separated by three minutes.
“We don’t know what is the real solution for it,” Neuville concened. “We know four minute gap [works for us as drivers], but also four minute gap for the organizers is a mess.
“It also brings other issues with spectators moving around and so on. So it’s a more complex subject.”
Friday’s start list was later published, which confirmed cars will start at three-minute intervals.
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Rally Italy Sardinia, Rally Italy Sardinia 2025, Thierry Neuville, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date June 5, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/06/FwrHrXOd-2025ITALY_VT_059-780x520.jpg June 5, 2025
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