Sami Pajari takes control of Croatia Rally following morning of attrition

Sami Pajari has emerged as the surprise leader of the Croatia Rally following a high-attrition morning that saw several frontrunners stumble. After finishing the opening stages with consistency, Pajari secured a victory on the final test of the loop, the Učka stage, to establish an 8.4-second lead over teammate Takamoto Katsuta. Thierry Neuville rounds out the top three, sitting just 8.7 seconds off the pace despite battling persistent understeer in his Hyundai.

The morning loop was defined by significant drama, notably the exit of championship leader Elfyn Evans. Evans initially dominated the proceedings, winning the first two stages before a heavy off on the third test ended his rally. His retirement followed the early departure of Oliver Solberg, who beached his car after clipping a bank on the opening stage, while M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong also retired following a high-speed impact on SS4.

While others struggled with changing grip levels and punctures, including Adrien Fourmaux who lost significant time early on, Pajari maintained a disciplined pace. Despite acknowledging he can still improve his driving, the Finn remains optimistic, noting his confidence in the team's tire strategy as the rally continues.