Takamoto Katsuta emerged victorious in the Croatia Rally for Toyota, claiming the world championship lead this Sunday. This win follows his first career victory in Kenya last month.
The race took a dramatic turn when Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, who led by 1 minute 14.5 seconds into the final leg, crashed and severely damaged his car’s suspension, leading to an unexpected turnover.
As Neuville crashed out, Katsuta’s Finnish teammate Sami Pajari clinched second place, while New Zealander Hayden Paddon finished third for Hyundai. Katsuta now leads the championship with 84 points, ahead of teammates Elfyn Evans and Oliver Solberg.
(With inputs from agencies.)