The second day of Croatia Rally 2024 has come to a close. Thierry Neuville has taken sole lead of the event after the day’s eight stages.
SS9, Smerovišće – Grdanjci 1
Adrien Fourmaux kicked off the day with his first stage win of the weekend. As the Frenchman set a time 0.5 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to top the stage. Sebastien Ogier was the third fastest on the stage, one second slower than Fourmaux and 0.5 seconds slower than Neuville. Ott Tänak finished fourth fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the day’s opening stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS10, Stojdraga – Gornja Vas 1
Sebastien Ogier took home the stage win on the tenth stage of Croatia Rally 2024. Ogier posted a time 0.3 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans who tied for second on the stage. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Neuville and Evans. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 5.7 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS11, Vinski Vrh – Duga Resa 1
Thierry Neuville took his first stage win of the day on SS11. Neuville set a time 0.9 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans to take the stage win. Sebastien Ogier finished third fastest on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.7 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak was fourth fastest on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.5 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS12, Pećurkovo Brdo – Mrežnički Novak 1
Thierry Neuville also claimed the stage win on the final stage of the morning loop. As Neuville posted a time 2.9 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top the stage. Elfyn Evans and Ott Tänak tied for third fastest on the stage, with both drivers finishing three seconds slower than Neuville and 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 2.1 seconds slower than Evans and Tänak.
SS13, Smerovišće – Grdanjci 2
Elfyn Evans ended Neuville’s stage win streak with a stage win of his own on SS13 of Croatia Rally 2024. As Evans set a time one second faster than Sebastien Ogier to claim the stage win. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 6.7 seconds slower than Evans and 5.7 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Neuville. Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 5.1 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS14, Stojdraga – Gornja Vas 2
Thierry Neuville answered Evans stage win with a stage win of his own. As the Belgian posted a time 3.9 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to claim the stage win. Elfyn Evans was third fastest on the stage, 4.3 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.4 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta finished fourth quickest on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.8 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS15, Vinski Vrh – Duga Resa 2
Thierry Neuville also took home the stage win on the penultimate stage of the day. With a time 1.6 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top his second consecutive stage. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest on the stage, 1.7 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Ott Tänak set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Tänak.
SS16, Pećurkovo Brdo – Mrežnički Novak 2
Thierry Neuville capped off the penultimate day with yet another stage win. As Neuville set a time 0.5 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to win the stage. Elfyn Evans finished third fastest, 0.9 seconds slower than Neuville and 0.4 seconds slower than Ogier. Ott Tänak was fourth fastest on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Evans. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five, finishing with a time 1.3 seconds slower than Tänak.
What To Expect From Croatia Rally 2024 Day Three
The third and final day of the Croatia Rally will see drivers contest 54.78 km across four stages. The longest stage of the day is the 14.24 km Zagorska Sela-Kumrovec stage which is the second stage of each loop and will serve as the Powerstage. While the shortest stage of the day is the 13.15 km Trakošćan-Vrbno stage which is the first stage of each loop. Thierry Neuville takes a 4.9-second lead over Eflyn Evans into the final day. Sebastien Ogier is third overall, 11.6 seconds behind Neuville and 6.7 seconds behind Evans. Ott Tänak is a minute and 3.9 seconds out of a podium spot. While Adrien Fourmaux rounds out the top five 19.9 seconds behind Tänak. Grégoire Munster will once again be the first car on the road followed by Andreas Mikkelsen and Takamoto Katsuta.
A Close Battle
Just 11.6 seconds separate first and third overall. Heading into the final day’s four stages there is no clear-cut winner. Thierry Neuville could win, Eflyn Evans could win the event again and Sebastien Ogier could have his 100th career podium be an event win. This could very well come down to the Powerstage. Something we have yet to see this season and something we haven’t seen happen in a while. Croatia Rally 2024 has been an incredibly close battle throughout the first two days and nothing is saying the final day won’t be the same.