In a thrilling climax that sent shockwaves through the World Rally Championship, Takamoto Katsuta emerged victorious in Croatia, capitalizing on a stunning final stage disaster that befell Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville. With a commanding lead of 1 minute and 15.4 seconds heading into the last stretch, Neuville appeared poised to claim his first win of the 2026 season, potentially putting an end to Toyota's flawless streak. But fate had other plans — the Belgian driver lost control of his i20 N, crashing into a concrete block and rendering his vehicle inoperable. This catastrophic misstep not only dashed Neuville's victory hopes but also gifted Katsuta his second consecutive WRC win, crossing the finish line 20.7 seconds ahead of Sami Pajari and Hayden Paddon, who rounded out the podium.
The Croatian event was far from a straightforward journey; it unfolded over 20 grueling stages that tested the endurance and skill of all competitors. Neuville had fought valiantly for the win, especially after championship leaders Elfyn Evans and Oliver Solberg both faced early retirements. Solberg's dreams were dashed just 4.8 kilometers into the rally when he collided with a rock face, while Evans, leading the pack, succumbed to a rare back-to-back retirement after misjudging a tight corner, leaving him with only his second retirement since 2024’s Greece event.
As the rally progressed, Pajari initially took control, nursing a narrow lead over Neuville into Saturday. However, chaos erupted during stage 14, where treacherous conditions turned the course into a minefield littered with debris and puncture risks. Pajari, Katsuta, and others suffered punctures, with Pajari losing his lead after a wheel change that cost him over two minutes. Meanwhile, Neuville skillfully navigated the perilous terrain, emerging with a stunning 1 minute and 15.9 seconds advantage.
With victory in sight, Neuville aimed to cruise through the remaining stages without pushing too hard for additional points on Super Sunday. But destiny struck once more, as his dreams were shattered in the final stage. “I can only say sorry to everyone involved,” Neuville lamented after the crash. “That’s the only thing I can say. All the rest we will see later. I have no explanation at the moment. This cannot happen. We will see what exactly went wrong.”
In a remarkable twist, Hayden Paddon, making only his second WRC start, seized the opportunity to claim a podium finish, marking his first since Rally Australia in 2018. His teammate, Adrien Fourmaux, experienced an eventful rally that included a puncture and a retirement after colliding with a telegraph pole, although he managed to rejoin and secure crucial Super Sunday points despite a puncture in the final stage.
The rally also witnessed historic moments in WRC2, as Yohan Rossel drove his Lancia Ypsilon HF Integrale to a groundbreaking first WRC2 victory for the legendary brand, which hadn’t seen a top-five finish since 1993. This milestone reflects Lancia’s triumphant return to the sport. Rossel's win came in dramatic fashion, edging out his brother Leo in a thrilling finish, while Nikolay Gryazin took the final podium spot.
As the dust settles on this nail-biting event, it’s clear that the 2026 WRC season is shaping up to be one for the ages, and the stakes have never been higher. With intense competition and unexpected twists at every turn, rally fans are left on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the next adrenaline-fueled showdown.