WRC – Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais declare Croatia Rally win on extraordinary Sunday

Sébastien Ogier jumped from third to first general on a dramatic Sunday at Croatia Rally, claiming a shock win as Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans confronted heartbreak.
After three days of neck and neck competitors on spectator-packed asphalt roads round capital metropolis Zagreb, victory seemed set to be determined between Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20 N, and Welshman Evans in a Toyota GR Yaris. Nonetheless, as they headed into the second stage of this closing day separated by simply 2.6sec, the tables all of a sudden turned.
A late tempo notice meant in a single day chief Neuville arrived too quick right into a left-hander and slid huge earlier than using up a financial institution and right into a tree. The affect destroyed his Hyundai’s rear aerodynamics package deal however, extra importantly, price him nearly 25sec.
Unaware of his rival’s downside, Evans misjudged a tightening right-hand bend in the exact same stage and spun, dropping 20sec as he tried to get his automotive pointing in the precise course. It meant that Ogier, who had occupied third place for the reason that opening stage on Friday morning, all of a sudden gained a 9.1sec lead with two levels remaining.
In contrast to his friends, Ogier made no such errors and stored Toyota team-mate Evans at bay – celebrating his second Croatia Rally triumph by 9.7sec together with a milestone one centesimal WRC podium.
“It has been a troublesome weekend,” admitted Ogier, who was co-driven by Vincent Landais. “We knew coming right here that our begin place could be a difficulty, however we by no means gave up and stored the stress on for the entire weekend. I don’t assume I’ve ever had so many moments in a single rally, however it’s good to get the win for the group.”
Toyota’s 1-2 outcome prolonged the Japanese marque’s lead within the producers’ championship to seven factors over Hyundai. However all was not misplaced for Neuville, who nursed his battered automotive to the top 36.1sec behind Evans in third.
The 18 factors Neuville earned by main on Saturday night helped to retain his drivers’ collection lead, and he heads Evans by six factors after spherical 4 of 13.
“It’s what it’s,” Neuville mirrored. “We had an amazing few days, however sadly immediately did not go so effectively. On the finish we’re taking essential factors so it isn’t so dangerous. We might have appreciated to push tougher within the Energy Stage however these vehicles and not using a rear wing are undriveable.”
Ott Tänak had a high-speed scare in SS18 when his Hyundai mounted a grass embankment, however the Estonian recovered shortly to safe a fourth-place end. He initially confronted stress from M-Sport Ford hotshot Adrien Fourmaux earlier than the Frenchman plummeted down the order after damaging his Puma’s steering, hitting an anti-cut marker on the identical take a look at that caught out Neuville and Evans.
Takamoto Katsuta claimed the utmost seven factors accessible for being the quickest driver throughout Tremendous Sunday, climbing to fifth in his Toyota after Fourmaux’s troubles. Andreas Mikkelsen and Grégoire Munster have been sixth and seventh.
Triumphant Gryazin maintains Citroën’s good Croatia WRC2 file
Nikolay Gryazin romped his approach to WRC2 victory on Sunday, sustaining French producer Citröen’s good file in Zagreb.
With 39.5sec in hand over his C3 Rally2 team-mate Yohan Rossel coming into Sunday, Bulgarian driver Gryazin utilized a risk-free method to the weekend’s closing 4 asphalt pace assessments – cruising to the ultimate time management 38.5sec away from the sector and eight within the general classification. Citroën vehicles have now topped the WRC2 rostrum in each WRC Croatia Rally version.
“It feels very nice, particularly with all of the work we did earlier than this occasion,” Gryazin beamed. “I simply have to drive like this extra usually, I would like to recollect this sense.”
Rossel may additionally afford to take an identical method with greater than two minutes separating himself from third-placed Pepe López, who was locked right into a nip and tuck battle with Nicolas Ciamin for the ultimate podium spot.
Campaigning a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, Ciamin began the ultimate leg simply 10.8sec down on López’s Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 however a short spin 1.2km into the day’s opener price the Frenchman 5 seconds and put paid to his podium aspirations.
2022 WRC3 champion Lauri Joona seemed set to assert his first-ever top-five WRC2 end however was caught out on Sunday’s second stage, being pressured to cease and alter a tyre. That dropped him to sixth and opened the door for Eyvind Brynildsen, who was making his first look since EKO Acropolis Rally Greece two years in the past.
Emil Lindholm’s weekend-long points continued on Sunday when his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 misplaced energy on SS18, however he was capable of maintain off Roberto Daprá and end seventh.
In ninth was the Fabia RS Rally2 of Armin Kremer, who fulfilled his objective of successful the WRC Masters’ Cup class.
WRC hits the gravel subsequent month for Vodafone Rally de Portugal. Spherical 5 of the season is predicated in Matosinhos and takes place from 9 – 12 Could.
Flawless Jürgenson secures maiden WRC3 win in Croatia
Romet Jürgenson and co-driver Siim Oja celebrated their first WRC3 victory on Sunday at Croatia Rally having just about led the asphalt occasion from begin to end.
Twenty-four-year-old Jürgenson was launched into the lead on Friday morning when early pacesetter Ali Türkkan rolled his related Ford Fiesta Rally3 automotive. He managed the rally ever since, racking up a formidable haul of seven stage wins en-route to a 1min 33.7sec successful margin. There was double delight for the Estonian as he additionally took out victory within the FIA Junior WRC class.
Mattéo Chatillon cranked up the tempo over the ultimate kilometres and climbed from fourth to second on his WRC3 debut. Piloting a Renault Clio Rally3 amongst a swarm of M-Sport Poland-built Fiestas, Chatillon pipped Filip Kohn to the runner-up spot by 20.8sec as Australia’s Taylor Gill fell to fourth.