Croatia is hosting, for the fifth time, one of the official rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship – the WRC Croatia Rally, which will take place from April 9 to 12. After four editions held in Zagreb and the surrounding counties, the WRC is moving for the first time to western Croatia. The rally will be contested across the Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria, Karlovac and Lika-Senj counties. This year’s WRC Croatia Rally was presented today in Rijeka by Daniel Šaškin, President of the Organising Committee, and Marin Frček, Vice President of the Organising Committee, alongside Ivica Lukanović, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, Iva Rinčić, Mayor of Rijeka, Fernando Kirigin, Mayor of Opatija, Željko Tomljanović, Mayor of Senj, and Irena Peršić Živadinov, Director of the Kvarner Tourist Board.
“This year we are celebrating 120 years of the Croatian Auto and Karting Federation, which further confirms the long tradition of motorsport in this region. The rally will pass through four counties. The ceremonial start will take place on Thursday, April 9, in Rijeka on the Korzo. After the shakedown on Grobnik, Friday’s stages will be run in Istria, Saturday’s in Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Karlovac counties, and on Sunday the rally will conclude in Senj with a live stage at the Nehaj Fortress. The finish and trophy ceremony will be held in Opatija. Although this is already the fifth year of the project, the excitement remains the same as the first year, and I am extremely satisfied that we have managed to realise this story,” said Daniel Šaškin, President of the Organising Committee of WRC Croatia Rally.
The event is an asphalt rally that Croatia has been organising since 2021, with the exception of 2025, when the European Rally Championship was held in Croatia. The competition brings together the world’s best drivers, teams, and car manufacturers. The special stages run through demanding and attractive sections that, from this year on, connect the coast, the hinterland, and mountainous areas, further highlighting the diversity of Croatia’s landscape and the attractiveness of the event.
The WRC Croatia Rally traditionally features between 60 and 80 crews, including all leading factory teams – Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Motorsport and M-Sport Ford. The rally is contested in multiple categories, including Rally1, Rally2, Rally3, and FIA Junior WRC. The start list is expected to include reigning world champions, the biggest names in world rallying, and the best Croatian crews.
“The strong interest from the public and the media is the best indicator that this event stands above average. I would like to thank the media representatives, as significant resources are invested in this project and it is important for us that its impact is as large and as high-quality as possible. I also thank all colleagues and partners who joined forces to bring such an event to our region. I especially congratulate the organisers – from the initial idea, through the demanding organisation, to financial execution – because delivering a project of this scale is far from simple. Four counties will have the opportunity to host an event of global significance, which clearly sets us apart. Excellence is what we strive for, and this is a prime example of how joint effort can deliver top-level results,” emphasised Ivica Lukanović, Prefect of Primorje-Gorski Kotar County.
The event lasts four days, with the programme beginning with the shakedown as a test run before the official start of the rally. The ceremonial start officially launching the WRC Croatia Rally will take place on Korzo in Rijeka on Thursday, April 9, while the service park, the central hub for technical support and vehicle maintenance, will be located at Grobnik from Wednesday, April 8, to Sunday, April 12.
“I believe the event is already being intensively prepared and that, thanks to the good cooperation so far, it will grow into an event that exceeds expectations. This is an exceptional opportunity to promote the city and the region, while creating a positive and family-friendly atmosphere. I am pleased that Rijeka is hosting one of the stages and would like to thank all partners who have supported this project from the very beginning. Motorsport has a long tradition in Rijeka, and this event symbolically returns it to where it belongs,” said Iva Rinčić, Mayor of Rijeka.
The competitive part of the rally consists of 20 special stages spread over three days, with the final Power Stage finishing at the Nehaj Fortress in Senj.
“An event like this brings strong international promotion to our cities and region, as well as a significant boost to tourism through the arrival of domestic and international visitors. It is a special honour that Senj has been chosen to host the final day of the rally,” said Željko Tomljanović, Mayor of Senj.
The ceremonial finish and winners’ ceremony will be held in Opatija, symbolically concluding the rally on the Kvarner coast.
“Opatija has a rich motorsport history – from the historic Nice–Opatija race in 1902, through the Preluk circuit, to the Opatija Rally and a strong motorsport tradition that has lasted for decades. That is why I am particularly pleased that the ceremonial finish will be held in Opatija,” said Fernando Kirigin, Mayor of Opatija.
The WRC Croatia Rally enjoys exceptionally strong international media visibility, with television broadcasts and digital content available in more than 160 countries worldwide. As part of the WRC calendar, the event achieves a significant global reach and makes a major contribution to promoting Croatia as a sporting and tourist destination.
Over the past four years, more than one million spectators have followed the WRC in Croatia live, while television broadcasts and recordings have reached nearly 100 million viewers per season in more than 160 countries. Individual editions of the rally are estimated to attract between 350,000 and 400,000 visitors along the stages and in the service park.
By relocating the event to Kvarner, Istria, and Lika, the WRC Croatia Rally gains a new dimension and further confirms its status as one of the most significant sporting events in Croatia.
