Evans scores emotional victory to end drought
Evans and co-driver Scott Martin delivered a faultless drive to score a first win since Rally Finland in October 2021 by a margin of 27.0 seconds from Tanak on Croatia’s challenging asphalt stages. Esapekka Lappi secured third, 58.6s adrift, to score his first podium of the season for Hyundai, who fielded a reduced two car […]
Evans moves a step closer to victory
The two-time championship runner-up produced a measured drive across the morning’s three stages to push his advantage over M-Sport Ford’s Ott Tanak out to 28.1s ahead of the final stage. Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi maintained third position, 1m02.7s adrift, while his team-mate Thierry Neuville returned to action after crashing out of the lead on Saturday morning. […]
“Many things” compromised WRC Rally Croatia charge
The 2019 world rally champion produced an impressive push at the start of the afternoon loop, resulting in the 2023 Rally Sweden winner cutting Evans’ rally lead from 19.1 seconds to 12.5s, before drama struck on the day’s penultimate stage. Tanak initially reported in stage 15 that he had suffered an issue with his handbrake […]
Evans extends lead, handbrake hampers Tanak charge
Evans inherited a 19.1s lead on Saturday morning after Friday’s pacesetter Thierry Neuville retired for the day after crashing out in stage 11 in the morning loop. However, Evans faced a stern challenge from Tanak in the afternoon, who reduced the gap to 12.5s before a mechanical issue struck his car in the day’s penultimate […]
Evans leads Tanak after Neuville crash
Evans started the day 5.7s behind leader Neuville but the Welshman inherited the rally lead when his Hyundai rival went off the road in stage 11, which forced Neuville to retire from the day’s action. The sole remaining Hyundai of Esapekka Lappi headed to service in third, 44.8s adrift. Only 4.7s covered fourth to seventh […]
Neuville crashes from the lead on stage 11
The Belgian ran wide at a medium-speed right hander in stage 11 (10.13km) and clipped a rock with the rear of his I20 N, which sent the car off the road and into the trees lining the road. Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe emerged from the incident unscathed but the damage to the car was […]
Ogier handed penalty for WRC Rally Croatia seatbelt infringement
The breach occurred on stage 2 when the Toyota pairing were forced to change a wheel after hitting a compression while leading the rally. Ogier and Landais were able to change the wheel in a little over a minute and only lost 1m32s on the stage following the stoppage. However, it has been deemed that […]
Croatia lead a “small sign of light” for Hyundai WRC team
The South Korean marque is running a reduced two car entry following the tragic death of its third driver Craig Breen in a testing accident in the lead up to the asphalt event. The team only elected to compete in the rally after careful consideration and discussions with the Breen family, the Irishman’s surviving co-driver […]
Neuville holds onto lead from charging Evans
Neuville held a 16.1s rally lead on Friday morning after early leader Sebastien Ogier suffered a wheel failure on his Toyota during stage 2, but the Belgian faced a stern challenge from Toyota’s Evans in the afternoon. Neuville, piloting a Hyundai carrying a tribute to the late Craig Breen, witnessed his lead reduce to 5.7s […]