The fourth stage of the FIA World Rally Championship 2024, the Croatia Rally, took place from April 17th to 21st. Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans engaged in an intense battle throughout the opening day, with both drivers finishing the 120 km racing section with the same time down to the tenth of a second.
Neuville started the day strong, winning three out of the four morning stages and establishing an 8.6-second lead over Evans, who managed to win the stage his rival did not. The competition was so tight that they left third-placed Ogier more than 21 seconds behind when they returned to midday service. The muddy conditions and occasional snow flurries made grip levels unpredictable, causing Ogier to struggle due to the dirt dragged onto the road. Despite encountering a slow puncture in SS1 and getting caught in a rain shower in SS5, Ogier’s strong performance in SS8 brought him back into contention.
After the break, Neuville continued to extend his lead over Evans, reaching a difference of 10.1 seconds. However, in the sixth stage, Evans managed to take the lead by a mere 0.1 seconds after Neuville suffered a puncture. Neuville explained: “There was a rock on the road. I tried to avoid it, but it must have been close because it immediately punctured the tire. It was about 2 km from the finish. The stage was okay, after the puncture I was just trying to survive.” Ogier, trailing by 18 seconds, made a comeback by winning the last two stages of the day, leaving a manageable gap of 6.6 seconds.
Tänak had a less remarkable performance, finishing in fourth place and with little confidence in the drivability of his i20 N. He expressed his frustration, saying: “At some points we were really frustrated, and our morning was really going downhill. The first loop was a struggle; I was fighting with the car while trying to get better times and that made me have some moments. Only this afternoon things came together a bit more and became more consistent in the car. We still didn’t have much confidence to commit, but tomorrow we will return to the car for another show.”
Adrien Fourmaux showed promise by setting the second fastest time in the final stage, putting himself in a prominent position in his M-Sport Ford Puma. Takamoto Katsuta, on the other hand, struggled to keep up with the leaders’ pace and couldn’t match the rhythm.
In the WRC2 category, Citroën drivers Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin dominated the field, establishing a lead of over two minutes. Gryazin, in his second participation in the FIA World Rally Championship with a Citroën C3 Rally2, set the tone early on, outpacing his teammate Rossel by 10.8 seconds in the opening test. He continued to dominate, winning seven stages on Friday, while Rossel managed to win one stage and finished 31.1 seconds behind Gryazin.
Pepe López, who finished as runner-up in the Rallye Monte-Carlo, made his debut in Croatia and comfortably secured the third position on the podium in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Despite his limited knowledge of the broken asphalt stages, López ended the first day with a 20.1-second advantage over Nicolas Ciamin, who had a fierce battle with fifth-placed Lauri Joona.
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The football star Cristiano Ronaldo surprised everyone with his incredible last-minute play during last night’s match. The Portuguese player scored a spectacular goal in the final minute of the game, securing the victory for his team. The crowd went wild with Ronaldo’s skill and precision, once again proving himself to be one of the best in the world.
The game started at a fast pace, with both teams fighting to score the first goal. However, it was Ronaldo who stole the spotlight with his brilliant play. He dribbled past three defenders and kicked the ball with impressive force, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance of defense.
After the goal, Ronaldo’s team maintained the lead and managed to hold onto the result until the final whistle. The victory was celebrated by the fans, who packed the stadium to see their idol in action. Ronaldo was cheered and applauded by the supporters, who acknowledged his contribution to the team.
With this goal, Ronaldo once again showed why he is considered one of the greatest players of all time. His skill, speed, and precision are unmatched, and he continues to amaze the football world with his incredible plays.
This was just another chapter in Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliant career. The player has already won numerous titles and awards throughout his career, and it seems like he has no plans to stop anytime soon. Fans are eager to see what the future holds for this talented athlete.
In summary, Cristiano Ronaldo once again showed why he is one of the best football players in the world. With his incredible play and spectacular goal, he secured the victory for his team and left fans ecstatic. The football world is amazed by Ronaldo’s skill and talent, as he continues to shine on the field.
