The championship is finely poised with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville main Toyota’s Elfyn Evans by six factors following a grueling Safari Rally Kenya that noticed each title contenders hit hassle.
Reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera produced a faultless drive to win in Africa to say his first win of a part-time marketing campaign and safe Toyota’s maiden victory of the 2024 season.
Toyota will probably be aiming to proceed its return to type at an occasion the place it has gained the earlier three editions. The Japanese model will probably be with out Rovanpera as eight-time world champion and 2021 Croatia winner Sebastien Ogier takes over the third manufacturing facility GR Yaris.
Sitting fourth within the championship, Hyundai’s Ott Tanak heads to Croatia needing to ignite his title problem following a troublesome begin to the season, with the 2019 world champion but to attain a podium outcome after three rounds.
Andreas Mikkelsen rejoins the Hyundai staff to make his second WRC begin of the season within the third i20N. The staff can pay tribute to the late Craig Breen with a particular livery adorning its vehicles because the spherical marks a 12 months for the reason that lack of the much-loved former Hyundai driver.
M-Sport-Ford will debut a brand new rear wing on its pair of Ford Pumas for Adrien Fourmaux and Gregoire Munster.
This week Autosport WRC reporter Tom Howard is joined by rally journalist Luke Barry to debate all the important thing subjects heading into Croatia, together with the information that Eire gained’t be becoming a member of the WRC calendar subsequent 12 months. The pair additionally delve into the historical past of the occasion with the second version of the Gravel Notes quiz.
The 20-stage rally, comprising 283 aggressive kilometres, begins on Friday.