After years of near-misses and countless heartbreaks, Thierry Neuville can finally bask in the glory of his maiden FIA World Rally Championship title at FORUM8 Rally Japan, where Toyota GAZOO Racing sealed the manufacturers’ crown after a gripping final day packed with drama.

The battle for this year’s FIA World Rally Championship title is set to go to the wire as Hyundai Motorsport’s Ott Tanak leads Rally Japan overnight, with teammate and WRC points leader Thierry

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville secured his first world rally championship in Japan on Sunday as Toyota sealed the manufacturers' crown. The Belgian driver ended years of near-misses by finishing sixth after team mate and main rival Ott Tanak crashed out while leading on the day's opening stage.

The only certainty about this year's World Rally Championship, which reaches its conclusion in Japan this weekend, is that a Hyundai driver will take the title, but whether that is Thierry Neuville or Ott Tanak remains to be seen.

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville fought back into the points at the season-ending Rally Japan on Saturday to stand on the cusp of his first world championship.

The newly crowned world rally champion believes his mental strength has been key to finally achieving his ultimate goal

Rally Japan 4 Update

Hyundai's Thierry Neuville shrugged off the heavy tag of rallying's nearly man to win his first world championship on Sunday while Toyota sealed the manufacturers' crown on a dramatic final day of the season in Japan.