Rally Poland saw Thierry Neuville impressed by Martiņs Sesks' debut performance highlighting the rookie's quick adaptation and skill on gravel.
Belgian rally driver Thierry Neuville has expressed his admiration for the performance of FIA World Rally Championship newcomer Martiņs Sesks at the Rally Poland.
Despite it being his first time competing in such a high-caliber event, Sesks showcased remarkable speed and skill, leaving a strong impression on the seasoned championship leader.
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Sesks, piloting a non-hybrid M-Sport Ford Puma, managed to edge out Neuville by a mere 0.1 seconds at the end of Saturday’s race.
“It’s definitely good to see.When I came to WRC, I was cleaning the road all the time which is, for sure, sometimes a bit frustrating. But nevertheless, hats off, because he has done a really, really good job for his first time in the car on such a fast event," said Neuville as per WRC portal.
The young Latvian also shone during the rally’s second stage securing a top-two finish.
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His success in this stage was partially attributed to his advantageous road position.
Neuville who currently leads the championship by 15 points after seven rounds highlighted the challenges of competing on fast gravel tracks, which will feature prominently in the upcoming events in Latvia and Finland.
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For Neuville, these rounds are crucial especially as he admits to feeling less comfortable on such rapid courses.
“I think, and really it’s no secret, that the biggest struggle for us is now.
We need to keep our head clear and follow the feeling. The positives are that, if we push, the speed is there, but we need good conditions. The points that you score on difficult weekends are the most valuable, and [in Poland] we scored a decent amount of points for such a challenging weekend," Neuville confessed.
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Sesks is slated to make another appearance in the championship this time driving a hybrid-powered Ford Puma Rally1 in his home country next month.