How Neuville can become world champion at CER – DirtFish

However, with the complex new points system introduced for 2024, there are almost endless possible permutations and combinations in which this could be achieved. Fear not, because DirtFish has made the calculations so that you don’t have to.

The only way that Neuville can guarantee himself the title at CER regardless of what his rivals do is to be leading at the end of Saturday (and finish the rally to bank those points, of course) and score at least 11 of the 12 additional points that are available across Super Sunday and the powerstage.

Still, even if it’s Tänak that is second to Neuville after Saturday, the Estonian must score at least two points more than his team-mate across Sunday if he is to prevent an early coronation.

If Neuville takes top points from Saturday, that will be enough to put the title beyond reach of Ogier and Evans regardless of their final day scores.

And if Tänak sits seventh or lower, the title could effectively be settled as early as Saturday evening – but again, Neuville will need to reach the final time control on Sunday before celebrations can begin. Even if he does, final-day retirements for other drivers could still complicate matters too by handing more Saturday points back to his rivals…