Neuville's broken suspension forces Sardinia rally retirement

World champion Thierry Neuville was forced to retire from the Rally of Sardinia after damaging his car's suspension. This setback likely diminishes his chances of earning significant points. Neuville's Hyundai i20N suffered a broken left rear suspension during the fifth stage. He had just taken the lead from teammate Adrien Fourmaux. The damage occurred after hitting stones on a narrow track. The same stage also caused issues for other drivers, including a rollover for Katsuta and damage to Serderidis's car. Neuville's retirement is a major blow to his championship aspirations.