Ott Tanak says if team-mate Thierry Neuville is “smart” at the Rally Japan there will be no chance for him to claim a second WRC title despite Hyundai allowing its drivers to fight.

Both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles will go down to the wire in Japan next month after last weekend’s dramatic Central European Rally. 

Neuville could have sealed a maiden world title if he had outscored Tanak by two points at the three-nation rally, but instead left with his 29-point lead cut to 25 after Tanak claimed a 21st career win.

It means the title fight will be decided on Japan’s asphalt roads with the advantage firmly in Neuville’s hands, while Hyundai leads Toyota by 15 points in the manufacturers’ race.

Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul has confirmed that his drivers are able to do battle unabated in Japan, but is also eager to secure a first manufacturers’ crown for the Korean brand since 2020.

While Neuville has a significant advantage with 30 points remaining on the table, securing the title is not an absolute certainty.      

“I don’t know what difference we can make but we will try our best, but with this scoring system it doesn’t make much difference,” Tanak told Motorsport.com.

“It is true [a retirement can change things] for sure, I guess it depends how much Thierry wants it. 

“If he is smart in Japan and does a good job then nobody has a chance, but we also have a responsibility for the manufacturers championship. It is still a big job ahead of us so we can’t really focus only on drivers title. We are responsible for the team too.”

Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport

Neuville was on course to beat Tanak last weekend to potentially clinch the world title before two errors in stage 12 dropped him from the lead to fourth.

Reflecting on a weekend where his lead over Tanak decreased, the Belgian believes he fulfilled his main objective of maintaining a comfortable championship lead. 

“If we look at our targets ahead of the event we completely fulfilled all of the targets by leaving here with a big lead in the championship for the last round, but also having finished the rally and taken some good Sunday points,” Neuville told Motorsport.com.

“So in that perspective we have achieved but nevertheless we can be disappointed because we were not able to keep the lead. 

“If I look at the conditions we faced on Saturday and even on Sunday…I’m not sure on the last day, when the points are validated, I would have been able to go with the same risks as the others. 

“It is a comfortable lead. The worst-case scenario we need to take six points. In any other scenario, we are pretty fine.

“We need to find the right balance [in Japan] because there is still manufacturers’ championship to fight for and nevertheless we have that third car with Andreas [Mikkelsen] who will go for a push. We need to find a good balance between a safe but good drive.”

Regardless of the outcome of the drivers’ championship, Hyundai boss Abiteboul is relieved to have secured one of his two main objectives.

“What we can say is we are halfway on our objective we have secured a driver title we don’t know which one yet which is why we don’t want to celebrate,” he added.

“We have accomplished our mission so that is a relief and for the rest let’s see what we can do in Japan.” 

THIS is the ‘crazy dangerous’ moment a jockey threw his own safety aside to comfort a superstar horse after it collapsed mid-race.

Rider Jason Collett has earned worldwide praise for his quick thinking after Think About It fell to the ground with a ‘bleeding attack’ last weekend.

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Connections feared the worst for the six-year-old gelding – who has won almost £6.5million in prize money – after he flipped spectacularly during the running of the Group 3 Sydney Stakes at Randwick.

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But after being unseated Collett rushed over to the horse’s side and appeared to gently soothe his head before the on-course vets could arrive.

Incredibly his touch must have worked as Think About It made a miraculous recovery there and then.

He was was able to get to his feet and walk back to the stables amid cheers from the crowd – who initially feared the worst after he collapsed in a heap rounding the home bend.

The horse’s trainer Joseph Pride said: “I have seen horses come down like that before, and they don’t get back up, unfortunately.

“Once they put that screen up, they’re not coming out.

“I saw his head pop up above the screen. It was amazing. I just thought, ‘Ah, what a relief’.

“I don’t believe in any higher powers but honestly, something happened there.

“I don’t know what happened. There is a scientific explanation there but it is beyond me. He shouldn’t have got up.”

Once examined by vets the decision was made to retire Think About It immediately.

A Racing New South Wales post confirmed what had gone wrong. It read: “Think About It, which collapsed in Race 6 due to a bleeding attack, has recovered and is under veterinary care.

“Jason Collett was uninjured in the incident.”

Collett was labelled ‘amazing’ for his heroic act.

One punter who posted the clip wrote: “Graphic footage and love to hear Think About It will be living life like a king from here on out in retirement.

“But huge respect for Jason Collett in a crazy dangerous situation, trying to comfort the horse without any hesitation #Amazing.”

Another wrote: “Jason Collett – you are a quality human, mate. Respect.”

While even those completely unfamiliar with him were left in awe.

One person said: “Oh my goodness. Never heard of Jason Collett before but what a legend and the horse survived? Wow.”

The jockey himself said: “I’m OK and amazingly the horse has walked back to the stalls.

“They don’t do that. I thought he’d broken down but he’s bled out.”

Collett revealed his first instinct was not to ensure his own wellbeing but to check on the horse.

Speaking the morning after the incident, he said: “I am so happy to see him this morning.

“I can’t even believe he doesn’t even seem to be sore from the tumble. He rolled over and at speed, they’re going about 40mph.

“I’m OK and amazingly the horse has walked back to the stalls.”

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The ADAC has unveiled a brand new logo for the DTM as part of a revamped brand identity for the championship.

Designed in cooperation with sports branding agency UnitedSenses in Munich, the new logo was showcased to the public for the first time at last weekend’s Hockenheim finale and will come into effect immediately.

The new design features the yellow and black colours of the German automobile club ADAC, which bought the DTM from its previous owner the ITR at the end of 2022.

After the purchase, the ADAC implemented an updated version of the logo originally introduced by the ITR, but has given it another overhaul at the conclusion of the series’ 40th season.

In a statement, the ADAC said the logo will be accompanied by a “new broadcast and digital identity, and various design solutions for printed products and events will achieve a consistent branding for all brand experiences in the DTM.”

The ADAC also announced that the DTM will switch to 100 per cent synthetic and fossil-free fuel from 2025.

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Photo by: Alexander Trienitz

Produced by P1 Fuels company and certified by the FIA, the switch to synthetically-made petrol will help the series cut down its carbon emissions by 75%.

P1 Fuels is already involved in motorsport and has experience supplying fully sustainable fuel to the World Rally Championship.

“We are now taking a significant step in the further development of the series and are strengthening the DTM’s role as a pioneer in the field of sustainability in motorsport,” said ADAC Motorsport Director Thomas Voss.

“We are bringing greater sustainability to the DTM platform with a new, synthetic and climate-friendly fuel. In doing so, we are demonstrating the potential of synthetic fuels within one of the most popular racing series in Europe.

“We are also presenting the series with a dynamic look; a new brand image will give us a modern branding.”

Factory Lamborghini driver Mirko Bortolotti was crowned the 2024 DTM champion after he finished second to Luca Engstler in Sunday’s final race at Hockenheim.

The next DTM season, the 41st in the championship’s history, will begin at Oschersleben on 26-27 April.

The spotlight will once again be on Leach, off-spinner Bashir and possibly leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed as a third frontline slow bowler in the England XI for the third Test.

After England won a record-breaking first Test in Multan, Pakistan recycled the same pitch at the same venue and levelled the series in the second Test, with home spinners Noman Ali and Sajid Khan sharing all 20 wickets.

Pakistan captain Shan Masood said he wanted another turning pitch in Rawalpindi and pictures on social media emerged on Sunday of attempts to dry the surface with industrial-sized fans, heaters and windbreaks.

On Monday, the heaters and windbreaks had been removed, though the fans remained.

England are yet to train in Rawalpindi and will get their first look at the pitch on Tuesday.

“I don’t know what to expect,” said Leach, who has 140 wickets from his 38 Tests.

“I haven’t seen anything. We’ll go to training tomorrow, have a look at it. I feel quite clear about what I’m doing. That doesn’t really change depending on the wicket.”

When Bashir lines up for England this week it will mean he has played more Tests, 12, than the 11 other first-class matches he has played.

The 21-year-old has 38 victims for England including three five-wicket hauls, but remains Somerset’s second-choice spinner behind Leach.

“We’ve got a really good relationship,” said Leach. “Bash has got off to an amazing start. His talent is amazing. He has got such a high ceiling and he’s on the way to that. That’s exciting for English cricket.

“It might be different at Somerset next year. Who knows? For me it’s quite a fluid thing.

“Those are things I can’t control. Somerset and England are the teams I’ve been playing for. If they want to pick me, then I’ll give everything for them. That’s all I want to focus on.”

AN assistant referee was hit by a missile thrown from the stands at the end of a match.

A third-tier game between CF Montanesa and CE L’Hospitalet turned ugly as fans made their feelings clear.

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They shouted at the officials as they walked off the pitch and a lighter was thrown at the assistant referee.

He raised his hand to block the object before clutching his face, appearing to be hurt.

Two people came to his aid but he seemed fine and began shouting towards the stand.

A Montanesa player then jumped to his defence and called for calm from the fans.

Spain has been hit by fan unrest in recent weeks with the Madrid derby halted by objects thrown from the stands last month.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was the target of many of the missiles thrown due to his former ties with Atletico.

Atletico boss Diego Simeone criticised the behaviour of his fans after the match.

He said: “The message was to think about the club, think about your team.

“You aren’t helping the team. They said it wasn’t their fault, they said they’d been provoked by the opposition goalkeeper.”

CF Montanesa beat CE L’Hospitalet 1-0.