Listen to Pertti Lappalainen’s and expert Henri Haapamäki’s preview for the Croatian World Rally Championship below or directly from Areena. Among the topics are the settings of the championship fight and Ott Tänak’s problems.
The World Rally Championship season continues this weekend in Croatia with the fourth race of the year. The championship battle is exciting based on the early season, as one of the biggest favorites is the Hyundai driver Ott Tänak got off to a bad start, team mate Thierry Neuville leads the World Series and Elfyn Evans breathing down his neck despite the loss.
‘s expert Henri Haapamäki enjoys a situation where there is no clear ruler. The first race of the season, in fairly summery, Monte Carlo conditions, gives an indication of the teams’ strength on the asphalt.
No one has a clear advantage at the moment.
– It’s great that a good driver with top performance in practically any rally1 car can win the rally. There is currently no such bad car or team in the series that you can’t win because of it, Haapamäki reflects.
follows the World Rally Championship in Croatia moment by moment in this tracker.
The opposite examples of the early season
Esapekka Lappi or Kalle Rovanperä are not competing in Croatia, but there is still plenty to be excited about. The driver’s role and responsibility are emphasized in error-prone conditions.
One of the biggest surprises of the early season has been a Ford driver Adrien Fourmaux. Haapamäki nominates Fourmaux as a candidate for the podium.
It would be the third in a row for the French driver, almost sensationally.
– There is more than a good chance of that. He has a really good flow, he is a good asphalt driver and Ford is getting, for example, a new rear wing for this rally, Haapamäki praises the team’s development parts.
The opposite example is Tänak. The Estonian driver has suspended every early season race. Thanks to the new points calculation system, 33 World Championship points have been accumulated, although there have been enough driving mistakes, technical problems and bad luck.
Haapamäki says that the course must now change.
– Now one successful competition is no longer enough, but several good results are needed. In the same way that winning fuels further success, problems can be left knocking in the back of the head, Haapamäki reflects.
Tänak was in a good mood at the finish line of the special test in Croatia, but admitted that the early season has not built strong confidence in his performances.
Haapamäki, who has raced himself, says that failures can pile up pressure and a sense of “dread of escape” to perform. The expectations of outsiders become more sensitive to the skin if the driver does not drive good results for a long time.
– A little squeezing of the wheel begins. On every long straight, it comes to mind that it has gone well so far, and then you notice when braking that your thoughts were elsewhere, Haapamäki elaborates.
At the same time, he reminds that as a driver Tänak is the absolute elite of the series and that Hyundai has had good results this season as well. According to the expert, Täna too should not make major changes to his driving.
Haapamäki stresses that championships in the World Series have not been won by making sure, because someone always dares to drive at the risk limit and succeed.
– Driving for a sure fourth place in the final season is not enough. You have to drive the tongue under the belt and hope that the risk will bear fruit and the car will last intact, says Haapamäki.
The conditions are challenging again
Haapamäki makes Croatia the biggest favorite, despite Thierry Neuville’s consistent preferences. The Belgian has shown top speed, but in terms of points, he has also taken “catch-up wins” from the previous two races after difficulties.
Neuville starts the route first, which may favor the World Series leader. Intersecting lanes in Croatia lift a lot of dirt onto the road, which makes the asphalt slippery for cars coming behind.
– I believe that they will try to take advantage of the starting position on Friday, Haapamäki estimates.
Evans is six points behind Neuville in the World Series and starts second on the route in Croatia. Haapamäki considers the trio of Neuville, Evans, Tänak to be very evenly matched. Anyone from the trio can reach victory.
The eight-time world champion who won the special test test brings his own spice to the pot Sebastien Ogier. Toyota’s French legend returns to the World Cup after a break of two races.
He revealed at the finish line of the special test that in last week’s first tests, the driving was a bit difficult after a break of a couple of months.
– Oh, I have to quickly get back into the rhythm, Ogier described the feeling evoked by the first tests.
– It was a really useful test, and now I’m happy to be able to compete, Ogier smiled.
In Croatia, the Irish driver who died before last year’s World Rally Championship in Croatia will be remembered this weekend Craig Breen. His last remaining team, Hyundai, has painted the colors of the Irish flag on the bonnet of the car for the Croatian rally.
Breen was known in sports circles as a rally-loving and bright person.
– A real rally man in spirit and blood. He always enjoyed driving, Haapamäki describes.
He believes that Breen’s memory will be beautifully honored in Croatia, also with an exciting competition.
– It is certainly the wish of everyone involved in competitive sports that things continue and we move forward. Memories always live, Haapamäki concludes.
Read more: Comment: The extraordinary Craig Breen loved rallying, despite knowing all about its fragility