WRC Promoter commitment extended with three-year deal for Croatia

WRC Croatia Rally 2026

WRC 2026

Croatia

Watch LIVE at Rally.TV

Part of event series

WRC 2026

The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship Season includes 14 Events on 4 Continents.

14 Tour Stops

After a short break in 2025, the Croatia Rally returns to the WRC for its fifth edition with a dramatic move to the seaside.

Running from April 9 – 12 as the fourth round of the championship, the rally shifts its headquarters from Zagreb to the port city of Rijeka. The 2026 event is a true overhaul, with a route that trades traditional inland farmlands for the high-grip coastal roads and mountain passes of the Kvarner Gulf and Istria.

With the service park now based at the historic Grobnik Circuit, crews face a relentless 300km test across four counties, including the introduction of shakedown stages on the scenic island of Krk. From the ceremonial start in central Rijeka to the technical tests of the Lika-Senj highlands, the 2026 Croatia Rally brings a fresh Mediterranean flair to the WRC’s asphalt season.

Key Facts

DATE

09 - 12 APRIL 2026

Service Park

Rijeka (Grobnik Circuit), Croatia

Stages

Surface

Asphalt

Maps

TBC

Website

www.rally-croatia.com

Tickets

Info & Order

Hashtag

#CroatiaRally

Watch the rally

Live Stream / TV Guide

About the Rally

Croatia’s asphalt has quickly earned a reputation as some of the most technical and treacherous in the world, characterised by extreme grip variations and blind crests. For 2026, the relocation to the Adriatic coast brings a new technical dimension.

The roads around Rijeka and the Istrian peninsula are typically wider and more "circuit-like" than the narrow lanes of Zagreb, but they are notorious for becoming ice-slick at the first sign of rain. Tyre management remains the central tactical battle; with the Hankook Ventus Z215 slicks as the primary choice, crews must account for the abrasive volcanic-style tarmac of the Platak mountains versus the smoother, dustier sections closer to the coast.

The weather is equally unpredictable - while the Adriatic may be mild, the mountain stages can see temperatures drop significantly, making the transition between the coastal shakedown and the high-altitude tests a logistical and mechanical puzzle.

Follow the Rally

Every stage is live and on demand at Rally.TV – including all onboard cameras and expert analysis.

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