The Neuville vs Evans rivalry is heating up. The season will bring more thrilling races and strategic battles. Each event brings challenges and chances. But, the focus remains on these two strong contenders. They are vying for the championship title. Their skills are matched. Both Neuville and Evans have determination. They know no bounds. They are ready to push each other to their limits. Fans worldwide are watching . They are eager to see how this rivalry will shape the future of the race. It could define a new era in the sport. Don’t miss this thrilling competition. Stay updated as Neuville and Evans set the pace. They battle for supremacy in a way that is as unpredictable as it is exciting.
Establishing an 8.6-second advantage over his nearest title rival, Evans, the Hyundai driver set the tempo by winning three of the four stages.
Stage conditions got worse with each pass. Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier did well. He finished the circle in third place, 21.5 seconds behind the leaders. Despite having trouble with his i20 N, Hyundai’s Ott Tanak maintained fourth place (+37.3s).
Takamoto Katsuta was in fifth at +1m12.2s. Andreas Mikkelsen was sixth at 1m39.1s. Gregoire Munster and M-Sport’s Adrien Fourmaux were next at +41.6s and +1m57.3s.
Being the first to hit the road, Neuville capitalized on the most pristine conditions to achieve an impressive beginning to the rally.
Neuville was 6.6 seconds faster than Evans, the closest competitor and title contender. Evans was at the rear of the pack. Neuville dominated the first pass of Krasic-Sosice 1 (23.63 km).
Neuville was not very happy with the “lot of understeer” in his i20N. It was one of three Hyundais with a tribute livery to the late teammate Craig Breen. But, his time was a standout effort.
Increased dirt traction on the road surface caused the pursuing pack to complete the stage slower as each vehicle traversed it. Ogier began sixth on the road. He set the third-fastest time, trailing by 14.5 seconds. But he said that “matching” Neuville’s time was “impossible.””
A sluggish puncture brought the Frenchman to the stage’s conclusion.
Despite overheating tires, Fourmaux finished fifth fastest (+20.4s). Tanak lost 17.8s due to the worsening conditions and an anxious i20 N.
Mikkelsen lost 50.7 seconds from overshooting a junction. Katsuta, feeling unsatisfied, had to explain for 36.4 seconds.
M-Sport Rally1 driver Munster was ninth on the timing screen. He lagged behind WRC2 racer Nikolay Gryazin by a second. But, he secured an early class lead.
In response to Neuville’s remarkable first-stage time, Evans emerged victorious in the second stage, Jaskovo – Mali Modrus Potok 1 (9.48 km). The Toyota driver successfully took the narrow roads. They finished 1.7 seconds ahead of Neuville. This cut Neuville’s lead to 4.9 seconds.
Tanak finished the race in third place (2.4 seconds). This is despite his admission that his i20 N was “practically non-functional” and “difficult to operate.””
Fourmaux reduced his time by 4.2 seconds but was 0.6 seconds faster than Ogier, who encountered progressively muddy road conditions and ran wide. Katsuta, Munster, and Mikkelsen concluded the top eight, with the latter continuing to struggle with a nervous vehicle.
Neuville regained his lead over Evans. He expanded it to 8.6 seconds by the end of the third stage. He had set the fastest time on the first pass through Ravna Gora-Skrad (10.13 kilometers). Evans relinquished the stage lead to Neuville by 3.5 seconds, while Ogier trailed by only a tenth on a significantly more soiled road surface.
Fourmaux’s self-assurance grew. He achieved the fourth-fastest time, 4.9 seconds faster than Tanak.
Critically, although crews encountered snow on the roadside during the concluding segment of the loop (Platak 1 to 16.63 km), the road remained dry.
On the timing screen, Evans was 0.2 seconds behind Neuville, but the Belgian acknowledged he could not close the gap.
“This stage is likely the cleanest.” Neuville stated, “I am unable to attack.” Evans utilized three hard and three soft tires for the loop, while Neuville utilized one hard and five soft.
“I must be immaculate and pristine. I am incapable of pushing; doing so would render the endeavor futile. “I wish to travel at a faster pace!”
The stage was the most closely contested of the cycle, with Ogier finishing 0.3 seconds behind Neuville.
“The run has been productive; we can be satisfied with our cycle. We have lost some ground, but the afternoon should be much improved. Ogier stated, “Soft was unquestionably the incorrect decision; I’m content with my mixed selection.”
Tanak again outperformed his pacesetting teammate. But, he visibly struggled to gain confidence behind the wheel. This was clear from his statement that “somehow we struggled more than in Monte Carlo” during his pass that was 7.2 seconds slower. Like every Hyundai driver, Mikkelsen had troubles. He had to battle his vehicle to the finish.
Gryazin, driving a Citroen, extended his lead over teammate Yohan Rossel in WRC2 by 12.4 seconds.
This afternoon, the crews will visit a tire fitting zone and complete a second lap of the stages before returning to the Zagreb servicing park.
