TRIER, Germany -- Thierry Neuville held his nerve to win the Rally of Germany after Jari-Matti Latvala and then Kris Meeke crashed out of the lead on Sunday.
Neuville claimed his first world rally victory by 40.7 seconds from Hyundai teammate Dani Sordo, last year's winner. Sordo finished 17.3 seconds ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen's Volkswagen Polo R.
Neuville started the day 4.3 seconds behind Citroen driver Meeke, who was 56.6 seconds behind Latvala's Volkswagen.
Latvala went off the road in a vineyard section about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) after the start, gifting Meeke the lead, only for the British driver to crash into a wall in the following stage, won by Neuville.
Neuville claimed Hyundai's maiden win and became only the second Belgian to win a world rally following Francois Duval in Australia in 2005.
