Neuville takes charge as Croatia Rally reaches dramatic turning point
Thierry Neuville has surged into a dominant lead at the Croatia Rally following a dramatic Saturday afternoon. Starting the day trailing overnight leader Sami Pajari by over 13 seconds, the Hyundai pilot navigated treacherous, deteriorating road conditions to finish the day with a substantial 1min 14.5sec cushion over second-placed Takamoto Katsuta.
The rally narrative shifted decisively during the second pass of the Generalski Stol test. While Pajari had maintained a composed pace throughout the morning, the afternoon's stage surfaces resembled gravel rather than tarmac, resulting in a series of tyre failures across the field. Pajari was forced to stop to change a wheel, losing over two minutes and relinquishing the lead. Other competitors, including Hayden Paddon and Katsuta, also contended with deflations during the survival-focused loop.
Despite the chaos, Katsuta managed to secure second place overall, positioning himself as the primary challenger heading into Sunday’s final stages. Meanwhile, Adrien Fourmaux saw his weekend end prematurely after a crash on SS12, and Josh McErlean faced a difficult day marked by mechanical issues and a cockpit fire in his Ford Puma. Paddon sits in fourth, while Yohan Rossel continues to lead the WRC2 category.
Neuville heads into Sunday’s final 60km of competition in a strong position to secure his first victory of the season. The Belgian praised his Hyundai's setup, noting that the car’s consistent improvements throughout the weekend allowed him to maintain strong speed despite the inconsistent and challenging road grip.
