Hyundai WRC team adamant it won't drop Thierry Neuville for 2016

After a run of poor form, Neuville was dropped from the main Hyundai team to run in the second-string #20 i20 WRC for Rally GB, swapping places with Dani Sordo.

He had been linked with a return to either Citroen - before its decision to take a year out - or M-Sport for 2016 following his recent problems at Hyundai, but Nandan dismissed this.

"I am sure we will see the old Thierry again very soon," he told Autosport.

"And I'm not 100 per cent sure he will be a Hyundai driver next season, I am 200 per cent sure."

The aim of the GB reshuffle was to see if Neuville could regain confidence without the pressure of the battle for second in the manufacturers' championship.

He was an early retirement from the opening day when the left-rear wheel fell off his Hyundai.

Neuville and co-driver Nicolas Gilsoul changed tyres before the Myherin stage and the team suspects the wheel stud was cross-threaded or contaminated with mud.

Running first on the road on Saturday morning, Neuville was fastest on Gartheiniog and Dyfi but then crashed on Dyfnant.

Nandan refused to criticise Neuville for the accident.

"Where Thierry crashed was a very bad place in Wales," he said.

"He was first on the road and the first to find this place. That could have happened to anybody.

"I am happy we made the right decision with our drivers for GB; Thierry was able to set very good times and the confidence is coming."

After starting the year in a battle for a Rally Sweden win, Neuville's downturn in form has kept him off the podium since June's Rally Italy.