[WRC] Croatia Rally 2024

**Managarium** · 21st April 2024, 16:22

This year was modest.
Only SS 17 and 19.

Start of SS17, it was -2°C
SS17 start on Trakošćan, and SS19 about 1,5 km from start.

But guys, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 smells the worst. So much fuel in exhaust wehen lounch control is activated, that Trabant is field of flowers.

**CeskyOndra** · 21st April 2024, 16:23

What a rally!

Championship is now really close with Neuville advantage but difficult role of cleaning in Portugal.

Is rain in Portugal possible in this time of the year, or is it just 100% probability of dry weather?

**eib1** · 21st April 2024, 16:31

New vs old points system in numbers:

**pedro16** · 21st April 2024, 17:00

Originally Posted by CeskyOndra

What a rally!

Championship is now really close with Neuville advantage but difficult role of cleaning in Portugal.

Is rain in Portugal possible in this time of the year, or is it just 100% probability of dry weather?

It is 100% possible, but not the most likely scenario. Rain on this time of the year usually comes in the form of thunderstorms that aren't really predictable. We will have to wait for the rally week to be sure.

Weather forecast points that we will have some proper rain next weekend though. That will affect the next round of the portuguese championsgip where Sordo and a few WRC2 drivers will be present. Maybe some PET of the Rally1 teams will be affected too, but I have no clue on their schedule.

**mknight** · 21st April 2024, 18:20

Originally Posted by Lead

Mikkelsen with another poor result. He had a full rally test on tarmac and still "feeling is not there".

Not very good result, at the same time it basically perfectly matches Suninens CER last year. Just like his result in Monte was a copy of Lappi's 2023 there.

Mikkelsen had a rally in Italy with quite different tarmac and no actual test day for the rally.

For some perspective, Tanak hasn't yet managed a podium in the car and is also talking about feeling on tarmac.

**philippebugalski** · 21st April 2024, 18:23

Incredible and very competitive 3 days are behind us, what a rally and what a weekend. Seems like Seb's still got that champion luck and more mature drive in some moments that Evans and Thierry so he comes out on top.

Still nothing to take out of Thierry, drove the perfect 17 stages and then got punished for mistake.

Long season still to go, but with ''gravel season'' starting it's going to be much harder for Thierry and Hyundai to match Evans and Toyota.

P.S. what do you guys think, should Croatia get regular spot on calendar?

**TypeR** · 21st April 2024, 18:32

Originally Posted by mknight

Not very good result, at the same time it basically perfectly matches Suninens CER last year. Just like his result in Monte was a copy of Lappi's 2023 there.

Mikkelsen had a rally in Italy with quite different tarmac and no actual test day for the rally.

For some perspective, Tanak hasn't yet managed a podium in the car and is also talking about feeling on tarmac.

Lappi 2023 Croatia - 1 stage win, couple of top3 stages time and P3 O/A.
Yes, Lappi had also Sweden and Mexico before it, but it doesn't help any way on Croatia tarmac..

**Fast Eddie WRC** · 21st April 2024, 19:52

Originally Posted by Morte66

Evans did not look like he was really going for it, to me.

When he had the spin in the first run he said it was because a hard tyre didn't grip. Maybe he decided he didn't need to do too much because Neuville was slow too.

And the road was getting dirtier. I think there were only 1 or 2 PS points on the table for a big push.

I think you're right. And it ended with a fair result (points wise equal with Neuville) as Evans was really lucky not to do big damage or even retire with his off.

**Integrale** · 21st April 2024, 20:34

The onboards from today are online. Watched these:

- SS18 Tanak: That big moment is a sign to cool down for any normal person. But Ott's not a normal person. Impressive stage and the best camera angle.

- SS18 Evans: Got away with it at Neuville's spot. The spin came from out of nowhere.

- SS18 Neuville: He was surprised at the corner, carried much speed, total emergency brake. Couldn't hear any audio from inside the car until that moment, but while they're sliding you clearly hear 'Martijn!'

- SS20 Fourmaux: He's the real deal. Ran wide on a bank at one spot. Afterwards he says 'That's a stage, right? The hardest one of the year.'

Beautiful stage and rally! It is a bit like Finland on tarmac at times. I enjoyed the fight, it's a miracle everybody finished on these kinds of roads and that amount of pressure.