Rally Croatia, the challenge between Hyundai and Toyota starts again

After a short pause, he starts again with Rally Croatia 2024 season of FIA World Rally Championship. Hyundai and Toyota are ready to return to battle, the main characters are preparing for a new exciting weekend on the tarmac after a short period in Kenya.

Thierry Neuville is the championship leader, but Toyota is at the top of the constructors’ standings due to the dominance of Kalle Rovanperä at the 2024 Safari Rally event The Finn brought the first success of the season to the Japanese, little satisfaction after the defeat in Monte Carlo and Sweden.

Neuville vs Evans for the lead

Hyundai i20 #11 of Belgium Neuville has for now 67 points in the position against 61 of Wales Elfin Evans, first among all-time Toyota drivers. One too many mistakes on day 3 in Africa took away the Briton’s notional time record, last year’s best in Croatia.

The Japanese have made a difference in recent years in this one round. Toyota has won the series from 2021 to 2023, valid versions for the FIA ​​​​WRC. Thus, Evans is following a hypothetical theory that could allow him to also grab the championship’s all-time record which is more uncertain than before.

Neuville and Evans drive Hyundai and Toyota favorites on the eve of Rally Croatia. For Koreans, pay attention again to Estonian In Tanach, in crisis in Kenya after a failure during the second day of action. The former world champion has not yet been able to get the right feeling with the i20 Rally1, the round that we are preparing to comment on is a new opportunity to change the cards on the table.

Katsuta e Fourmaux try to prove themselves, Ogier returns to action

For Toyota, however, pay attention to Takamoto Katsuta, A Japanese player who got the second best position in Africa. Evans and the 31-year-old Nagoya native will share the garage again Sébastien Ogier, The Frenchman returning after the race in Monaco. The eight-time world champion is among the favorites for the final success, the Gap veteran has a chance to ‘steal’ some valuable points from Hyundai Motorsport as ‘Kalle’ did in Kenya.

Changes also for Hyundai and Norwegian Andreas Mikkelsen who returns to the lineup instead of Finn Esapekka Lappi, winner in Sweden. They are not here news, however, in the M-Sport Ford with Gregory Munster approached again to Adrien Fourmaux. All eyes are on the Frenchman, the rider who brought the American brand to the podium in Africa, confirming the best Top3 achieved on the Swedish snow.

Rally Croatia 2024 will officially start on Friday with SS1 (Krašić – Sošice 1 of 23.63km), the section that will precede Jaškovo – Mali Modruš Potok 1 (9.48 km), Ravna Gora – Skrad 1 (10.13 km) and Platak 1 (16.63 km).

Luca Pellegrini