Thierry Neuville has pledged to keep up his championship fight at this week's Wales Rally GB, even though a recent run of miserable results has left his title hopes hanging by a thread.

The Belgian heads to the season's penultimate round lying third in the drivers' standings, 38 points behind leader Sébastien Ogier and one behind Ott Tänak. 

With the final two rounds in Britain and Australia to come, and a total of 60 points still available, Neuville has a mathematical chance of being able to secure the drivers' title. But after two no-scores on the previous rounds, he would need a dramatic upturn in form in Britain to thrust himself back into title contention. 

“We were dealt something of a harsh blow in Spain, but we are ready to fight back in Wales," Neuville said. 

"It is a unique event on the calendar, a rally where weather conditions can really dictate performance and confidence levels. If it’s raining, windy and muddy, the stages become incredibly slippery. It is without doubt a tough event, but one that I relish. 

"I have finished on the podium a couple of times, and get a buzz from the fantastic atmosphere. Driving at high-speed through the forest stages, sometimes in the dark, is just incredible. I intend to keep pushing right to the end of the championship.”   

Neuville claimed the team’s maiden British podium in 2016 and prepared for this year's rally by testing his Hyundai i20 on Welsh roads this month. 

Team principal Michel Nandan said his team was determined to end 2017 on a positive note.
 
“We finished on the podium in Wales 12 months ago with Thierry, which gives us a positive feeling for this year," he said. 

"With Hayden Paddon, Andreas Mikkelsen and Dani Sordo also showing good form in Wales in the past, I hope we can enjoy a more trouble-free weekend and pick up a better result for our team compared to recent rallies.”

Dani Sordo will miss Rally Australia [16 - 19 November] following Hyundai's decision to field a three-car squad at the season's final round.

Hyundai will be represented by Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and new signing, and last year's winner in Australia, Andreas Mikkelsen. 

The squad ran three cars at last week's RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de España, when Hayden Paddon was sidelined. All four drivers will be in action at the upcoming Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. 

“The complexity of logistics for Rally Australia meant that we were not able to run a four-car entry, although that would have been the ideal solution," team boss Michel Nandan explained. 

"We had to make the decision based on which combination of crews we felt would give us the strongest all-round chance on the Australian gravel. Thierry scored our first Australian podium last year, an event that was won by Andreas and Hayden has made continuous improvements year-on-year in this rally. 

"We want to finish the season in the most competitive way possible, to lay ourselves strong foundations for next year – that’s our aim,” he added.

The Japanese manufacturer confirmed this morning that Tänak will join Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi in the Finnish-based team for all 13 rounds.

Tänak remains in contention for the 2017 drivers’ title after a breakthrough season at M-Sport World Rally Team in which he has won in Italy and Germany. He is second in the championship with two rounds left.

The 30-year-old Estonian has long been linked with Toyota and his decision to swap a Ford Fiesta for a Yaris World Rally Car spells the end of Juho Hänninen’s time at the team.

Tänak’s current contract means he is unable to comment, but Toyota team principal Tommi Mäkinen was elated his hunt was over.

“We’re delighted to have secured the services of Ott, having had our eyes on him for a while. He represents the perfect blend of youth and experience, together with the right sort of mental attitude that means he will fit into our team very well.

“Like the Yaris WRC, Ott has exceeded all expectations this year, so I’m sure it will be a strong partnership with both speed and consistency on all surfaces,” he said.

Hänninen’s co-driver, Kaj Lindström, will replace Jarmo Lehtinen as Toyota’s sporting director. Lehtinen left the role in August.

Lindström takes up the position from next month’s Kennards Hire Rally Australia (16 - 19 November), meaning Toyota will enter only two cars Down Under. Hänninen’s last appearance will be at next week’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (26 - 29 October).

Lindström co-drive Mäkinen at Subaru in 2002 and 2003, the pair winning Rallye Monte-Carlo in their first full year.

“One of my favourite memories of my own driving career is our win in Monte-Carlo together. From this, and the experience of working with him since, I know that Kaj is the ultimate professional and he is sure to be a strong asset as we continue our team’s development,” said Mäkinen.

Mäkinen thanked Hänninen for his services. The Finn played a key role in the Yaris’ development ahead of the team’s WRC return this season.

“I would like to express my thanks and appreciation for everything that Juho has done for us. He will always be a member of our family, and has played an important part in taking us to where we are today,” he said.

Hyundai Motorsport boss Michel Nandan has admitted his team’s I20 WRC was maybe too fragile to win this year’s manufacturers’ title.

The Korean squad’s championship hopes were virtually extinguished at RallyRACC Catalunya - Rally de España last weekend when all three of its i20 Coupes suffered similar steering and suspension failures.

Thierry Neuville, who retired from ADAC Rallye Deutschland in August with broken rear suspension, retired in Spain when he took a deep cut on Sunday morning and broke the front unit.

Dani Sordo and Andreas Mikkelsen were also forced onto the sidelines the previous day after hitting the same concrete block at the side of the road with a similar outcome.

“It is difficult to have all three cars stopping with broken suspension in more or less the same way,” said team principal Nandan.

“It is true there have been other instances where this has happened. Probably it could be a problem, but you know when you hit something you can damage some parts. Maybe our car is more fragile?”

M-Sport World Rally Team requires just four points to secure the title with two events remaining as Hyundai trails by 103 points.

Nandan, acknowledged the i20 had not shown the all-round strength required to win the title.

“Our manufacturers’ championship challenge is bad and probably over. To be champion, you need to have a lot of things perfect. Here (in Spain) we are missing still a lot of things so I think we don’t deserve to be champions. You have to face the reality,” he added.

Neuville’s retirement left his pursuit of the drivers’ title in tatters. He trails Sébastien Ogier by 38 points but Nandan confirmed supporting the Belgian’s outside chances would be Hyundai’s priority in the final two rounds. 

“Probably, we can have a glimmer of hope for the drivers’ championship, even if Seb has quite a big advantage for sure,” he said. “But there is still a possibility and Thierry has to try. We will help him to do that.”