There was a lack of significant incidents throughout the majority of the WRC Croatia event, but everything changed dramatically during the second stage on Sunday. Sébastien Ogier made a remarkable leap from third place to first overall, securing a surprising victory while Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans experienced devastating setbacks. Following three days of intense competition on the crowded streets of Zagreb, it seemed that the battle for victory would be between Neuville in a Hyundai i20 N and Evans in a Toyota GR Yaris.
During the 18th stage, the second stage of the day, the overnight leader made a mistake by entering a left-hand turn too quickly, causing him to slide wide and collide with a tree after riding up a bank. This not only damaged the rear aerodynamics of his Hyundai, but also resulted in a loss of nearly 25 seconds. Unaware of his competitor’s mishap, Evans misjudged a right-hand bend in the same stage and spun out, losing 20 seconds as he struggled to get his car back on track. As a result, Ogier, who had been in third place since the first stage on Friday, suddenly gained a 9.1-second lead with only two stages remaining.
Ogier maintained his composure and held off his Toyota teammate Evans, ultimately securing his second victory at the Croatia Rally with a margin of 9.7 seconds. This triumph also marked his 100th podium finish in the WRC and his 69th career win. “It has been a challenging weekend,” admitted Ogier, who was co-driven by Vincent Landais. “We were aware that our starting position would be a disadvantage, but we never gave up and maintained the pressure throughout the entire weekend. I don’t think I have ever had so many close calls in a single rally, but it feels great to secure the win for the team.” In the WRC2 category, Nikolay Gryazin comfortably led a Citroen 1-2 in the final results.