Thierry Neuville takes rally lead from Pajari in Croatia
11th April 2026Hyundai’s Belgian world champion, Thierry Neuville, has taken the rally lead on Saturday in Croatia, ahead of Toyota’s Sami Pajari, who dropped to third.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Pajari was the rally leader when the day started, holding a steady 13.7-second lead over Hyundai’s 2024 world champion. Toyota’s youngster maintained his lead throughout the day, allowing it to drop as low as 11.8 seconds.
However, it was the 14th stage when the rally lead fell away from the Finnish driver. A puncture on SS14, a stage described as ‘a lottery,’ saw the youngster drop time, falling to third over a minute behind rally rival Neuville.
It allowed the Belgian world champion to take the rally lead going into the final four stages on Sunday, with over a minute in hand against second-placed Takamoto Katsuta.
As such, Neuville has one minute and 14.5 seconds in hand over the Japanese driver, and one minute and 46.4 seconds in hand ahead of Pajari as the Belgian looks for his first win of 2026.
Despite the fight at the front, it was a strong showing from Toyota’s Oliver Solberg, who – alongside Elfyn Evans – rejoined the rally after crashing out on day one.
The young Swede claimed six stage wins across Saturday, including all of the morning tests. Only Katsuta (SS13) and Evans (SS16) stopped the championship contender from completing the clean sweep across day two.
Who sits where?
- Thierry Neuville, Hyundai – 2hr 20m 20.8s
- Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota +1m 14.5s
- Sami Pajari, Toyota +1m 46.4s
- Hayden Paddon, Hyundai +3m 28.2s
M-Sport Ford’s Joshua McErlean & Jon Armstrong, and Toyota’s Evans & Solberg occupy 16th, 35th, 38th and 48th, respectively.
Read more WRC here:
- What is the WRC Croatia Rally stage itinerary?
- Entry List: 2026 WRC Rally Islas Canarias
- Toyota experience differing conditions in testing ahead of Croatia Rally
- 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
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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.
