World Rally Championship FIA 2024
Stage 04, Croatia Rally
March 18 – 21, 2024
The thrilling battle between three competitors continued on Saturday as the team faced another eight stages and 108 km of challenging asphalt racing.
With rain in the forecast, the strategy of choosing the right tires became crucial. All cars in the top category opted for rain tires in the morning, but the weather remained dry during the first loop.
After a day full of unexpected twists, Thierry Neuville, the star of the Hyundai i20 N, maintained a 4.9-second lead over his Toyota rival, Elfyn Evans. This provisional lead gave Neuville 18 points, increasing his championship chances against Evans. Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier also performed well, securing third place, just 11.6 seconds behind the leader.
Neuville’s morning advantage was due to his careful preservation of his four Pirelli P Zero soft compound tires. Evans, on the other hand, struggled with only three soft tires, two rain tires, and one hard tire, losing 4.7 seconds in the loop. In the absence of rain, all three Toyota teams decided to take four soft tires and two rain tires for the afternoon loop. Neuville, however, opted for a more diverse package with two hard, two soft, and two rain tires.
If Neuville completes Super Sunday, he will earn 18 points. Evans will receive 15 points, while Ogier will receive 13 points.
“It’s not a significant advantage, but we had a fantastic day,” Neuville said with a smile. “Despite not making the perfect tire choice this afternoon, we managed to defend our lead. We need to keep attacking and make the right tire choice [on Sunday]. It wasn’t easy to judge the weather conditions.”
Evans commented: “It was a good and fun day behind the wheel. The margins were very close here and we simply couldn’t keep up with Thierry, who was consistently fast throughout the day. We had a good start in the afternoon and took the lead. We made the right choice of tires for that particular stage. After that, it’s hard to say what was the best choice, as the feeling in the car was very good. Unfortunately, we fell short at the end of the day. We will face another tough tire choice to cover the entire last day, but we will try to make well-informed decisions and do our best.”
Ott Tänak finished in fourth place, over a minute behind in another i20. He was lucky to escape with only a slightly bent rear wheel after going off track in a left turn and hitting a curb.
Tänak had a 19.9-second advantage over Adrien Fourmaux’s Ford Puma in fifth place. Fourmaux once again impressed with his performance in the M-Sport machine, setting the fastest time in Smerovišće – Grdanjci and increasing his lead over Toyota’s third driver, Takamoto Katsuta.
Andreas Mikkelsen, in seventh place, had another time-consuming setback, but felt more comfortable in his Hyundai at the end of the day. Grégoire Munster gained valuable experience in his Puma, finishing in eighth, while WRC2 stars Nikolay Gryazin and Yohan Rossel completed the classification.
The big Sunday finale awaits with four more stages and the chance to earn up to 12 points in the championship. A total of 54.78 km remains before the race ends in the Croatian capital, Zagreb.
© 2024
An exciting soccer game took place last night, leaving fans in ecstasy. The teams fought fiercely on the field, providing an unforgettable spectacle for the spectators. The stadium was full, with fans eager to see their favorite teams in action.
The game started with a surprising goal from the home team. The crowd went wild with the incredible play. However, the visiting team didn’t take long to react and equalized the game shortly after. The match was intense, with both teams seeking victory at all costs.
In the second half, emotions intensified even more. Both teams had several opportunities to score, but the goalkeepers were in their best form and prevented the ball from entering the goal. The players showed skill and determination, leaving fans in awe of their performance.
Just when everyone thought the game would end in a draw, the visiting team scored a goal in the final minutes. The crowd fell silent for a moment, before erupting in applause and celebrations. The home team tried to react, but time ran out and the score remained unchanged.
In the end, it was an exciting and fiercely contested match until the last second. The players showed their passion for the sport and provided a headline-worthy spectacle. Fans left the stadium with smiles on their faces, happy to have witnessed such an exhilarating game.
This was just one of the many exciting games that have taken place this season. The teams continue to compete fiercely, seeking victory in every match. Fans are eager to see what the future holds for their favorite teams and can’t wait for the next game.
© 2024
