Toyota experience differing conditions in testing ahead of Croatia Rally
5th April 2026Toyota’s World Rally Championship squad have all experienced differing conditions in testing as they prepare to return to asphalt for the upcoming Croatia Rally.
Feature image credit: Gazoo Racing
The WRC prepares to return to Europe for the first time since the Swedish rally, back in February, ahead of a European triple-header of sorts that will include Croatia, the Canary Islands and Portugal.
It will also be the first time since the Rallye Monte Carlo, back in January, that the crews competing will return to asphalt conditions, after driving on tarmac, snow and gravel in Monte, Sweden and Kenya, respectively.
As such, the Toyota squad has embarked on some testing sessions to prepare itself for the upcoming event. However, three of the crews reported three different conditions in their respective tests.
Elfyn Evans, on the back of a down-but-not-out time in Safari Rally Kenya, experienced wet and muddy conditions, which the Welshman claimed could be representative of what they will face in the actual event next week.
Takamoto Katsuta, following his first-ever win in the WRC in Kenya, and taking into account his home rally will soon be upon us, confirmed he had experienced colder weather, with rain and snow during his test. He said:
“We have two asphalt rallies coming up back-to-back, as well as Rally Japan, which will be another important rally for me and the team.
“It gives us a good opportunity to try things and find the best feeling on this surface, even though each rally is quite different.
“Croatia is one of the trickiest asphalt events because even in the dry the grip changes a lot, and in my test we had a lot of rain and even some snow! With many new stages too, we have to be ready for surprises.”
Sami Pajari, on the other hand, enjoyed simpler conditions during his pre-Croatia test as the Finnish driver confirmed they had ‘dry conditions’ on fast, flowing roads.
However, the Finnish driver understood that the rally itself can be muddy thanks to cutting at the corners. Regardless, the young Finn confirmed his ‘feeling is good’ ahead of the upcoming European event.
Croatia Rally will get underway next weekend, on April 10 – 12, 2026.
Read more WRC here:
- Takamoto Katsuta inherits Safari Rally Kenya lead after top three retire
- Solberg heads Safari Rally Kenya after a chaotic Saturday morning
- Oliver Solberg maintains Safari Rally Kenya lead despite puncture
- WRC confirm Safari Rally Kenya delay after Camp Moran cancelled
- Oliver Solberg charges ahead on opening day of Safari Rally Kenya
- Adrian Fourmaux tops first run of Safari Rally Kenya shakedown
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from ApexMotorsports.co.uk!
You can also support us on Patreon or our website!
Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
