A key component of the WRC calendar since 2021, Croatia Rally will once again provide an exciting challenge for the world’s top rally drivers – and a breath-taking spectacle for the fans either watching from the stages or live on TV or online across the globe.
After 400,000 fans followed the action in 2023, the WRC returns to Croatia with the chase for the world championship tightly poised after the wins on the opening three rounds of the season were shared by Thierry Neuville, Esapekka Lappi and Kalle Rovanperä. Lappi and Rovanperä won’t be in action in Croatia this year, meaning the prospects of another 2024 winner have been raised considerably.
Drivers in the hunt for the ultimate Croatia Rally prize include Elfyn Evans, the winner in Zagreb 12 months ago, his Toyota team-mates Takamoto Katsuta and Sébastien Ogier, who won the inaugural Croatia Rally in 2021. Andreas Mikkelsen takes over Hyundai’s third Rally1 entry from Lappi to partner with Neuville and Ott Tänak. The M-Sport Ford attack, meanwhile, features Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster.
Belgian Neuville, a winner of 20 world championship events, tops the championship standings for Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team following last month’s Safari Rally Kenya. But Evans is just six points adrift with Fourmaux also in contention having made a strong start to the season.
Frenchman Fourmaux made his debut in the WRC’s headlining category in Croatia in 2021. After crashing spectacularly on the 2022 edition, he returns on a high after he completed the Safari Rally Kenya podium to follow up his breakthrough top-three finish on Rally Sweden the previous month. Flying the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team flag he’s 21 points behind in the title race.
As well as the honour of winning the fourth Croatia Rally to count for the WRC, drivers will bid for extra championship points on Super Sunday. Instead of awarding points to the top 10 at the completion of a WRC event on a sliding scale of 25-18-15-12-10-8-6-4-2-1, under new rules for 2024, points are now allocated at the end of Saturday’s leg as follows: 18-15-13-10-8-6-4-3-2-1. However, points won’t be assigned if a crew fails to complete the entire rally route with the pairing finishing behind collecting their scores instead.
A separate classification for the Sunday stages awards points to the top seven (7-6-5-4-3-2-1) with the aim of discouraging the practice of drivers opting to go slower through Sunday morning’s stages ahead of a push on the Wolf Power Stage, which has adversely affected the spectacle for fans watching the final day of a WRC event unfold.
The 5-4-3-2-1 Wolf Power Stage points will continue to be handed out to the fastest five drivers on the event-deciding test.
Croatia Rally: A unique Challenge
Since it joined the WRC roster for the first time in 2021, Croatia Rally has provided a huge challenge for the drivers and teams with ever-changing grip levels and surface conditions characterising the event. While the first edition to count for the WRC took place in mainly warm and dry conditions, those taking part in 2022 faced an extra challenge with rain and fog.
What's new in 2024?
The Westgate Shopping City is Croatia Rally’s new home for 2024 following three years being hosted at the Zagreb Fair. The new venue houses the event service park and headquarters and has been referred to as the biggest of its kind in the European Union.
There’s no midday service on Friday, just a Tyre Fitting Zone, while there have been a handful of tweaks to the competitive route.
Day one’s Krašić - Sošice test is a combination of two old stages – Krašić - Vrškovac and Kostanjevac - Petruš Vrh, with part of the Kostanjevac - Petruš Vrh test run in an opposite direction to previously. Jaškovo - Mali Modruš Potok is back for the first time since 2022.
The famous hairpin on the Smerovišće - Grdanjci has been rerouted to offer a new challenge at the start, while another Saturday stage, Stojdraga - Gornja Vas gets a new finish location and is 4.90 kilometres shorter than in 2023.
Route Overview
Croatia Rally is not only big on challenge it’s also big on spectacular scenery with stunning landscapes combining with historic buildings to create picture postcard views.
The WRC drivers will switch from recce mode to shakedown mode on Thursday April 18 with the familiar 3.65-kilometre practice stage getting under way at 09h01. It’s situated close to the ancient town of Okić, which has records dating back to 1193.
From there, crews will continue their final preparations ahead of the spectacular Ceremonial Start at the National University Library and Zagreb Fountains from 18h30.
Friday’s first full day of action in the hills of Samoborsko Gorje, Žumberak and Karlovac west and southwest of host city Zagreb will be demanding in more ways than one with eight stages over a competitive distance of 119.74 kilometres. However, with no midday service, car preservation will also form part of the strategy during the opening leg.
Croatia Rally’s longest stage, the 23.63-kilometre Krašić - Sošice test, is up first from 08h28 and is followed in quick succession by Jaškovo - Mali Modruš Potok (9.48 kilometres), Ravna Gora - Skrad (10.13 kilometres) and Platak (16.63 kilometres). Platak, which is based close to a ski resort and in view of the Adriatic Sea by Kvarner Bay, was part of the Saturday itinerary.
Following a Tyre Fitting Zone at INA Cernik, the morning stages are repeated in the afternoon but in reverse order with the rerun of Platak up first and Krašić - Sošice rounding out the day. The first cars are due to enter the pre-service Technical Zone at the Westgate Shopping Centre at 19h44.
Saturday’s route south of Zagreb consists of four repeated stages either side of a service halt at the Westgate Shopping City. The 15.72-kilometre Smerovišće - Grdanjci is up first from 07h31. It’s then on to Stojdraga - Gornja Vas (20.77 kilometres), Vinski Vrh - Duga Resa (8.78 kilometres) and Pećurkovo Brdo - Mrežnički Novaki (9.11 kilometres). Following service in Zagreb, the afternoon’s action begins with the second run through Smerovišće - Grdanjci from 14h31. End-of-day service starts at 19h45.
Sunday’s deciding leg, located north of Zagreb, kicks off with Trakošćan – Vrbno from 07h08. The rally’s most northerly stage includes several undulating sections along the 13.15-kilometre route. It’s used twice during the day, at 07h08 and 10h23. The iconic Zagorska Sela - Kumrovec test, which increases from 14.09 kilometres to 14.24 kilometres in length, hosts the Wolf Power Stage from 13h15 following the dress rehearsal at 08h35. The finish podium is due to begin in front of the INA building in Zagreb from 16h00.
