Takamoto Katsuta takes back-to-back wins with surprise Croatia Rally victory
12th April 2026Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta has secured a surprising rally victory in Croatia, securing back-to-back World Rally Championship wins after Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville ran off the road on the power stage.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Katsuta has taken his second rally victory, taking back-to-back wins, both the Safari Rally Kenya and now the Croatia Rally, which has catapulted him up the championship standings and into the WRC lead, seven points ahead of Toyota’s Elfyn Evans.
The Japanese driver had taken an unlikely victory from the Hyundai world champion, Thierry Neuville, after the 2024 champion ran off the road on the Wolf Power Stage. The Belgian had over a minute in hand over Katsuta, leading Hyundai’s charge for their first victory of the year.
However, on the power stage, the Belgian’s Croatian rally was brought to an abrupt and cruel end as he ran wide, over a bank and down an access road. The 2024 world champion suffered suspension damage, dragging his right-front tyre as he continued on his way before stopping out on the stage.
Katsuta, who had arrived at the control finish line, had taken victory after initially securing second place in the rally. It also meant that those behind him were promoted positions, with Toyota’s Sami Pajari taking second and Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon taking his first WRC podium for Hyundai this season, and his first since 2018.
Oliver Solberg, Toyota, also claimed the clean sweep on Sunday, claiming all of the day’s stage wins, claiming 10 points in a weekend of recovery after crashing out on the first test of the weekend.
But, there is little to no rest for the teams and drivers as they prepare for the upcoming rally, which will get underway at the end of the month, Rally Islas Canarias. The second consecutive European rally will take place on April 23 – 26, 2026.
Read more WRC here:
- Thierry Neuville maintains lead with Power Stage separating Croatia victory
- Thierry Neuville takes rally lead from Pajari in Croatia
- 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
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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.
