Sensational twist in the Power Stage: Neuville gives the Croatia Rally to Katsuta

The 2026 Croatia Rally seemed ready to celebrate the return of Thierry Neuville to the top step of the podium, a result the Belgian driver had not achieved since the 2025 Saudi Arabia Rally, the last event of the previous championship. However, when everything seemed certain to see the smile back on the faces of the Hyundai team men, the incredible happened: as had happened to other drivers during this rally, Neuville made a blatant mistake in the early stages of the Power Stage, all when the lead over Takamoto Katsuta was even more than a minute and Hyundai’s first seasonal victory seemed guaranteed. An off-road, with damage to the right front suspension, which inevitably forced him to retire. A true harakiri that denied the celebration at Hyundai’s home, as well as giving the second consecutive victory to the Toyota Japanese driver. An unexpected success that incredibly allows the latter not only the win in Croatia but also, above all, the provisional leadership of the world championship.

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Super Sunday Report

The last day of the Croatian rally had however started under the banner of Oliver Solberg, who without the mistake made on Friday would have had concrete chances to fight for the victory of the fourth round of the championship. As in other stages, the Swedish Toyota driver finished in the lead ahead of Elfyn Evans (also involved in a mistake on the same day), but the main focus was on Thierry Neuville’s performance, who took the lead in the overall standings yesterday afternoon after the punctures that slowed Pajari and Katsuta. The Belgian driver finished SS17 in eighth place, fully managing the lead of over a minute on the Japanese driver, who also finished behind him in this stage. Different finishing order in SS18, at least as far as Katsuta is concerned: while Solberg and Evans confirmed their positions at the top of the standings, the 6th place of the winner of the last rally in Kenya allowed the latter to slightly reduce the gap from Neuville, once again 8th. Third consecutive ‘one-two’ for Solberg-Evans in the penultimate stage, all waiting for the decisive Power Stage, again finished with the best time by Solberg. A performance that allowed the Scandinavian to accumulate a total of 10 extra points for the victory in the Power Stage and in the Super Sunday, but it was in the twentieth and last stage that the unexpected happened: Neuville, last to start, incredibly went off the road, also hitting the base of a sign with the right front tire. Although he managed to get back on track, the damage to the front suspension was evident, forcing the Belgian to retire. In this way, in the most unexpected manner, Takamoto Katsuta won the Croatia Rally ahead of Sami Pajari and Hayden Paddon, with fourth place occupied by Yohan Rossel, who brings the Lancia to victory in the WRC2 category. Also in the top-10 was an Italian driver like Roberto Daprà, 9th in the overall standings.

2026 Croatia Rally, final standings (top-10)

Next appointment

With the Croatia Rally archived, the WRC now takes a one-week break before heading to Spain, more specifically to the Canary Islands. The event, on a route that features changes compared to the original program and will see the presence of Dani Sordo, is scheduled from April 23 to 26.

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