After three rallies, Neuville holds a six-point lead over Toyota’s Elfyn Evans. Croatia Rally has been held three times, with a Toyota driver winning each time. However, Neuville enters this challenging tarmac event from the best possible starting position.
“Croatia is one of the most demanding tarmac rallies I have ever competed in. There are lots of blind corners, crests and jumps – something very unusual for a tarmac event,” Neuville summarizes.
“I like the challenge of Croatia; the profile of the stages and the speed combined with the wide and narrow stages creates a unique test. But the roads are very similar to Belgian roads when it’s raining, so that creates some familiarity for us.”
Last week, the weather in Croatia’s capital, Zagreb, was hot, but temperatures have dropped to 15 degrees Celsius or below for the rally week, with some rain expected. This could make the cuts in corners particularly muddy.
“The car needs to have the perfect setup for both wet and dry conditions because of the unpredictability of the weather – if the setup is wrong, we lose confidence,” states Neuville.
Neuville aims to continue his strong form in Croatia. The first three events of the season brought him a win, a fourth place, and a fifth place. He has excelled particularly in the Sunday special stages, earning him a significant points haul so far.
“I would like to finish on the podium in Croatia: finishing in the top three is crucial to maintaining the championship lead. Our biggest target is to push for a top-step finish,” Neuville asserts boldly.
Croatia Rally begins on Thursday with the shakedown. The actual competition comprises 20 special stages, totalling over 280 kilometres.
