Takamoto Katsuta claimed a dramatic Croatia Rally victory on Sunday after Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville crashed out of the lead on the final Wolf Power Stage.
Neuville had looked set to seal Hyundai’s first win of the 2026 season, holding a lead of more than one minute heading into the final test. The Belgian struck a concrete block that damaged the front-right suspension of his i20 N Rally1, ending his rally within kilometres of the finish.
That handed Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston their second successive victory, following their breakthrough win at Safari Rally Kenya. The result was particularly notable as it came on asphalt rather than the gravel surfaces where Katsuta has traditionally been strongest.
Thierry Neuville on stage during Croatia Rally. The Hyundai Shell Mobis driver carried a lead of more than one minute into the final Wolf Power Stage before a collision with a concrete block ended his challenge.
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
Paddon completes podium
Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari was promoted to second, 20.7 seconds behind, while New Zealand’s Hayden Paddon completed the podium on his first Croatia Rally start. It was Paddon’s first podium since Rally Australia in 2018.
“A result is a result,” said Paddon. “We have done it by being a bit technical and having wisdom and being smart.”
Pajari had been the dominant force through Friday and into Saturday, only for a puncture on the second pass through Generalski Stol to cost him more than two minutes and the lead. He recovered to second but was left frustrated.
“Anyway, it is always positive when you can finish on the podium,” said Pajari. “I need to be happy for that, but at the same time I feel disappointed. The win was in our hands for a long time before it was taken away.”
Katsuta leads championship
The victory lifts Katsuta to the top of the drivers’ championship on 84 points, five ahead of Elfyn Evans, with Oliver Solberg third on 68. Toyota also strengthened its manufacturers’ lead, moving to 206 points against Hyundai’s 141.
In WRC2, Yohan Rossel secured a landmark victory for Lancia, giving the Ypsilon HF Rally2 its first category win. It also marked Lancia’s first top-five overall finish on a WRC round since 1994.
Gill flies the flag in WRC2
Australian Taylor Gill also completed the rally in a strong result for the WRC2 privateer. Driving the #27 Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 alongside co-driver Dan Brkic, Gill finished 16th overall to collect further WRC2 championship points, moving him to 14 points in the standings. The result was a notable achievement given the circumstances of their campaign: the pair had spent two months fundraising to enter and transported their car through nine countries and more than 3,000km just to make the start line in Rijeka.
The World Rally Championship remains on asphalt for Rally Islas Canarias from 23 to 26 April, based on Gran Canaria.
M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong navigates the stunning Croatian countryside during Croatia Rally, where the Irishman impressed on asphalt to finish third in the Super Sunday classification.
Image: Red Bull Content Pool
Croatia Rally — Final Classification
Driver / Co-driver
Nat
Car
Time/Gap
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