WRC Croatia Rally 2026

Sami Pajari emerged with a slender lead at Friday’s midday service after a bruising opening loop of Croatia Rally ripped through the frontrunners and turned the leaderboard on its head.

Oliver Solberg set the pace on Thursday’s Croatia Rally shakedown, heading a Toyota Gazoo Racing 1-2 on the championship’s return to pure asphalt.

Croatia Rally returns to the WRC calendar this week for round four of the 2026 season, marking the first pure asphalt event of the year and the beginning of a crucial new phase in the title race.

A change in location prompting an itinerary overhaul will ensure Croatia’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship will provide “a bit of everything”, according to M-Sport-Ford’s Josh McErlean.

Elfyn Evans says the WRC's return to Great Britain through the all-new Rally Scotland in 2027 is “very important” for inspiring the next generation of drivers, co-drivers and fans.