WRC champion Thierry Neuville (left) addresses the media alongside Aurelien Glay, the Managing Director of Caetano, the local franchise of Hyundai Motors at the company’s showroom in Nairobi on March 16, 2025.
World Rally Champion Thierry Neuville is not just a master behind the wheel, but also a man with a generous spirit, using his success to support charitable causes wherever he competes.
Since 2021, less fortunate Kenyans have benefited from his philanthropy, inspired by his mother’s advice.
“My mother told me I have been lucky making money, which I should share with others in need,” said Neuville yesterday on the sidelines of an autograph signing session at Hyundai Motors showroom in Nairobi.
The event was organised by the company’s Managing Director Aurelien Glay and his team, drawing a large crowd of fans.
Neuville has donated amounts ranging from €3,000 to €20,000 in various countries, but this year, he decided to pause his direct contributions in Kenya due to transparency concerns.
“This year we decided to stop. We have been facing a challenge here in Kenya for the last two years already. I mean, you never know what happened with the money, and it’s very difficult to continue to do it again.
We will continue next year once we identify and work with a professional body which will see where the money goes and show us,” said Neuville, the first Belgian world rally champion.
Through his Art Helmet charitable project in partnership with LKQ Europe, Neuville has raised substantial funds for various causes. He auctions his race-worn helmets after every WRC round, with proceeds going to charity.
The helmet he used during his championship-winning drive at Rally Monte-Carlo last year, designed by Belgian artist Frédéric Plateus, raised €20,000 (Sh2.8 million) for Association Antoine Alléno, a charity supporting bereaved parents.
For the 2024 Safari Rally, Neuville collaborated with Kenyan artist Thandiwe Muriu to design his helmet, which fetched £21,760 (Sh3.8 million) at a Bohmans UK auction, benefiting the Logos Scholarship Fund, a Nairobi-based educational support charity.
Neuville's generosity in Kenya dates back to 2022 when he donated Sh320,000 to the Hand in Hand for Kenya Maisha Mazuri Children’s Home. After the Rally Japan finale last November, another championship helmet featuring a special livery by artist Tadaomi Kawasaki raised over Sh17 million at auction.
Away from his charity work, Neuville remains passionate about the evolution of the WRC Safari Rally. He believes the rally should be extended to five days to restore its legendary endurance status.
“This will regain some of its famed endurance event qualities, but for sure even now the Safari is tough, and I expect a better result after having been unlucky in the past,” he said.
On his car choice, Neuville stated that Hyundai Motorsport would field the non-hybrid i20 model used in previous Safari editions for him, former world champion Ott Tänak, and Adrien Fourmaux.
“There is no difference in performance. The hybrid had over 500 bhp, which for me was fun to drive. But the hybrid plug-in weighing 80kg compensates, and 115bhp more compensates for the reduction of weight. The 380bhp in the car now is still very fast,” he explained.
Neuville also emphasised the crucial role of Hankook Tyres, which all teams will be using in the Safari and the WRC for the next three years.
“I have tested the tires in Portugal, and they are good. I hope to adapt them to my driving style. A lot will depend on the Safari, which can be rough,” he noted.
As he gears up for the challenging Kenyan terrain, Neuville hopes to find success in Naivasha and keep his championship dreams alive.
