Most recent winner · Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (2026)
First held
1974
Surface
Asphalt
Most recent winner
Takamoto Katsuta Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (2026)
Asphalt classicChanging gripDramatic reversals
About the rally
Croatia Rally was founded in 1974 and first hosted a WRC round in 2021. On its 2026 return, the base moved to Rijeka, with service at Grobnik circuit; 20 stages covering 300.28 kilometres were planned.
Most stages in 2026 used new routes. Different asphalt surfaces, gravel and dirt brought onto the road by corner-cutting altered grip, making slippery patches and tyre damage possible even in dry weather.
In 2026, Neuville retired after damaging his car on the final stage, and Takamoto Katsuta won for the second consecutive time after Kenya, taking the drivers’ championship lead for the first time.
Rally history
Founded in 1974: The event began in the former Yugoslavia and gradually became one of Central Europe’s most important rallies.
WRC debut in 2021: A calendar opening after pandemic-related adjustments gave Croatia its WRC debut. The inaugural edition was praised for its compact itinerary and intense battles.
New base in 2026: On its return to the WRC, the event moved to Rijeka, with the service park at Grobnik circuit and most stages on new routes.
A dramatic reversal in 2026: Neuville hit a wall on the final stage, and Katsuta’s second consecutive victory took him to the championship lead. Croatia again showed that no rally victory is secure until the finish.
Rally characteristics
A kaleidoscope of grip: Alternating old and new asphalt, dirt and slippery patches make line choice and anticipation more important than outright speed.
New routes: The 2026 event used 20 planned asphalt stages, where different paving and surface contamination changed grip along the same road.
Service park: The 2026 service park was at Grobnik circuit near Rijeka; facility descriptions from the historical Zagreb-based edition do not apply to this event.
A breeding ground for surprises: Variable grip increases the importance of tyre strategy and composure, repeatedly producing outsiders and reversals of fortune.
2026 WRC Croatia Rally · Data review
2026-4-12, Croatia Rally concluded on a new route based in Rijeka, with the service park at Grobnik circuit. Takamoto Katsuta recorded 2h 51m 15.8s to win by 20.7 seconds over Pajari, taking his second consecutive victory after Kenya. Zagreb was the base for earlier editions, not the venue for 2026.
Overall results · Top three
Position
Driver
Car
Total time / gap to winner
1
Takamoto Katsuta
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2:51:15.8
2
Sami Pajari
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+20.7 s
3
Hayden Paddon
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
+2:07.7
Event highlights
The final stage changes the winner: Neuville entered the last day with a lead of 1m 14.5s, but damage from a collision on the final Power Stage prevented him from finishing. Katsuta, previously second, inherited victory. Pajari was second, and Hayden Paddon finished third, 2m 07.7s behind the winner.
Tyre problems reshape the leading group: Pajari led until stopping to change a tyre on Saturday’s SS14, where Katsuta also lost time through tyre damage. The 2026 event was dry, yet gravel and dirt dragged onto the asphalt reduced grip, showing that low-grip conditions at asphalt rounds are not limited to rain.
Consecutive wins and championship changes: Katsuta led the drivers’ standings for the first time after the event with 84 points, while Pajari reached the podium for a third consecutive round. Solberg and Evans had gone off the road on Friday; after restarting, they took first and second respectively in both Super Sunday and the Power Stage to earn bonus points.
Event facts at a glance
Item
Data
Location
Rijeka, Croatia; service park: Grobnik circuit
2026 planned stages
20 stages (2026)
2026 planned stage distance
300.28 km
Surface type
Asphalt
First held
1974
Most recent winner
Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota, 2026)
2026 event record
First consecutive WRC wins by a Japanese driver (2026)
Also known as
“The asphalt maze”
Croatia first hosted a WRC round in 2021 and was absent from the calendar in 2025. It returned in 2026 around Rijeka and the Grobnik service park, with mostly new stages creating a different event arrangement from the previous Zagreb-based edition.
Information updated: 2026-10-3
Rally data
Stages20 (planned)
Total stage distance300.28 km (planned)
SurfaceAsphalt
Most recent winnerTakamoto KatsutaToyota GR Yaris Rally1 (2026)
