If we were in cycling we could say that it was a sprint finish. Sébastien Ogier won the Rally of Croatia by just 6 thousandths thanks to the final kidney stroke. The Frenchman of Toyota Gazoo Racing, the protagonist of a sensational accident in the connection section with the PS17, passed in addition to the damage remedied in the side impact and in the Power Stage he signed the decisive scratch for success and 5 extra points. Teammate Elfyn Evans made it easier for him, as often happens unable to withstand the pressure in the highlights. Just as he was flying towards victory, the Welshman missed a braking, leaving precious seconds on the ground and with them the first place reached with the best time in the specials 17 and 18.
Together with the two Yaris on the podium was Thierry Neuville, who also failed in the last special after having performed well in the stage just before.
Fourth at 1’25 an Ott Tänak not at ease at the wheel of the i20, followed by Adrien Fourmaux’s Ford Fiesta at 3’09 ”from the top.
Sixth place for the good Takamoto Katsuta on Toyota, preceding the Ford Fiesta of Gus Greensmith struggling with hydraulic and brake problems.
Craig Breen’s Hyundai i20 was eighth, satisfied with the lessons learned in the race, but slowed down by some transmission disturbance. Ninth la Citroen C3 R5 by Mads Ostberg and Torstein Eriksen, triumphs among the WRC2 despite the braking system problems. Finishing the top 10 was the Finnish Teemu Suninen in a Ford Fiesta R5 MKii, happy with the result having presented himself without tests behind him. For him the hope of being able to return to the premier category as early as the next round in Portugal.
Finally Kajetan Kajetanowicz, eleventh overall, set the pace between the WRC3s with his Skoda Fabia Rally 2 EVO.
Ranking Rally of Croatia 2021:
1 Ogier S. / Ingrassia J. Toyota Yaris WRC
2 Evans Elfyn/ Martin Scott Toyota Yaris WRC +00”6
3 Neuville Thierry/ Wydaeghe M. Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +08”1
4 Tänak Ott / Järveoja M. Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC + 01’25 ”1
5 Fourmaux Adrien/ Jamoul Renaud Ford Fiesta WRC +03’09.”7
6 Katsuta T./ Barritt Daniel Toyota Yaris WRC +03’31 ”8
7 Greensmith Gus/ Patterson Chris Ford Fiesta WRC +03’58”8
8 Breen Craig/ Nagle Paul Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +04’28”2
9 Østberg Mads / Eriksen T. Citroën C3 Rally2 + 10’00 ”8
10 Suninen Teemu / Markkula Mikko Ford Fiesta R5 MkII + 10’29 ”3
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