Born and brought up on Belgian asphalt, Neuville’s fulsome praise of the round three roads might surprise some. It’s even more surprising given the battle the Hyundai i20 N driver had on his hands to make Sunday’s podium.
“For me, this is one of the best Tarmac rallies we’ve ever had in the championship,” he enthused. “Despite everything, I really enjoyed the event – the conditions made it one of the most challenging ever.”
Neuville paid tribute to the Croatian fans, who turned out in massive numbers to cheer on the WRC stars.
“The atmosphere was great,” he added. “There were so many people around, so many fans. It was good to see. I think this event has a good future for the WRC. As a driver, it’s a real pleasure to be here.”
Neuville’s third place, despite penalties, a speeding fine and a final stage crash, mirrored his result from the inaugural Croatian WRC round 12 months ago.
Finland
Italy
Hungary