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Elite rally drivers were saved by a bottle of beer when their car overheated on the last day of a Mexican rally.
Hyundai duo Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul broke through for the manufacturer's first podium after quenching their car's thirst on the final stage of the three day World Rally Championship event.
The pair finished third in the final competitive stage of the rally and had to complete the formality of a 33 kilometre transport stage at low speeds on public roads to claim their trophy.
But their i20 rally car stopped by the side of the road, having wrecked its cooling system over a jump during high-speed gravel stages early in the day.
Rally rules prohibit crews from seeking outside assistance when working on stricken cars, preventing them from buying or borrowing coolant on the way home.
Neuville and Gilsoul had to replenish their car's fluids, and the only available liquid in the car was a large bottle of Corona beer intended for post-race celebrations.
The beer did the job, helping Hyundai secure third place behind dominant Volkswagens driven by Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala.
Neuville was thrilled with the result.
"We are incredibly happy to have scored this podium result today and especially in a rally as demanding as Mexico," he says.
"Our objective has always been just to bring the car home and finish the rally, so to take a podium is a really nice bonus for the team, who have worked so hard."
Hyundai duo Thierry Neuville and Nicolas Gilsoul broke through for the manufacturer's first podium after quenching their car's thirst on the final stage of the three day World Rally Championship event.
The pair finished third in the final competitive stage of the rally and had to complete the formality of a 33 kilometre transport stage at low speeds on public roads to claim their trophy.
But their i20 rally car stopped by the side of the road, having wrecked its cooling system over a jump during high-speed gravel stages early in the day.
Rally rules prohibit crews from seeking outside assistance when working on stricken cars, preventing them from buying or borrowing coolant on the way home.
Neuville and Gilsoul had to replenish their car's fluids, and the only available liquid in the car was a large bottle of Corona beer intended for post-race celebrations.
The beer did the job, helping Hyundai secure third place behind dominant Volkswagens driven by Sebastien Ogier and Jari-Matti Latvala.
Neuville was thrilled with the result.
"We are incredibly happy to have scored this podium result today and especially in a rally as demanding as Mexico," he says.
"Our objective has always been just to bring the car home and finish the rally, so to take a podium is a really nice bonus for the team, who have worked so hard."
