Katsuta Triumphs Again as Drama Unfolds at WRC Croatia
Takamoto Katsuta and County Tyrone co‑driver Aaron Johnston delivered a second successive World Rally Championship victory at Croatia Rally, guiding TOYOTA GAZOO Racing to the top step once again and propelling Katsuta into the lead of the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time in his career.
Returning to the WRC calendar after a year away, Rally Croatia featured a new base and largely revised stages, yet retained its reputation as one of the championship’s most demanding asphalt events. Although conditions remained dry throughout the weekend, loose gravel and dirt dragged onto the roads created treacherously slippery surfaces, significantly increasing the risk of punctures and tyre damage.
The challenges were evident from the outset. Several crews were caught out early, while young Finn Sami Pajari impressed by leading much of the rally as he chased a maiden WRC victory. His hopes were cruelly dashed on Stage 14, however, when a puncture forced him to stop for a wheel change. Katsuta, who had been right in the fight for the lead, also suffered tyre damage on the same stage, momentarily denting his chances.
That left Pajari and Katsuta seemingly set to settle for second and third until a dramatic final twist on Sunday’s rally‑ending Power Stage. Long‑time leader Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai sustained terminal damage, forcing his retirement and turning the rally on its head.
Katsuta and Fintona‑based Johnston seized the opportunity, claiming victory just four weeks after celebrating their maiden WRC win at Safari Rally Kenya. The result not only marked back‑to‑back wins for the Japanese driver, but also lifted him to the top of the drivers’ championship standings—making him the first Japanese driver ever to lead the WRC.
Takamoto Katsuta (Car 18)
“To win two rallies in a row is quite amazing. It was a big surprise how it happened, and I really felt sorry for Thierry and Martijn and the Hyundai team, because I know how painful these moments can be. Still, I have to be happy for my team and for Aaron—we did a clever job this weekend. It was crazy right until the end. It’s nice to be leading the championship now, but I won’t think about it too much. I’ll just stay focused on doing my best.”
Armstrong’s Pace Shines Despite Frustration
Elsewhere, M‑Sport made a bold strategic call at the start of the event, opting for predominantly soft compound tyres while rivals leaned toward harder options. The gamble paid early dividends, with Kesh driver Jon Armstrong delivering the fastest opening split of the rally and finishing the first stage third overall.
In his first full season at the helm of the Rally1 Ford Puma, Armstrong maintained impressive pace throughout the weekend and came agonisingly close to his first WRC stage win—missing out by just 0.1 seconds.
The atmosphere was heightened by passionate home support, with Irish flags lining the stages and filling the service park, providing an emotional boost for the Rally1 crews.
However, tragedy struck for Armstrong and Donegal co‑driver Shane Byrne on Friday. An over‑optimistic pacenote on Stage 4 saw Armstrong clip a kerb, causing terminal suspension damage and forcing the pair into retirement.
Restarting on Saturday, the Irish duo showed remarkable resilience, setting multiple second‑fastest stage times and missing out on stage wins by margins of just 0.1s and 0.2s on Stages 3 and 15 respectively. Armstrong spent Sunday battling regular championship frontrunners, delivering his strongest Rally1 performance to date despite his low overall classification.
Jon Armstrong (32nd Overall)
“I’m really happy with the pace we showed this weekend. It’s been a strong and consistent performance, and it’s great to take P3 on the Power Stage and score some valuable extra points.
We’re learning a lot about the car in these conditions, which will be important heading into Gran Canaria. There’s still more to come from us, but this is a solid step forward.”
McErlean Shows Grit on Debut Croatian Asphalt
For Josh McErlean, Rally Croatia marked his first encounter with the notoriously tricky Croatian tarmac. Despite dirty road conditions from a later starting position, the Kilrea driver held an impressive fifth overall for much of Friday.
A puncture on Stage 7 forced him to stop and change a wheel, dropping him down the order. Saturday would prove mentally demanding alongside Cork co‑driver Eoin Treacy, with a small electrical fire on Stage 10 costing a further seven minutes. Additional punctures on Stages 13 and 14 compounded the challenge, though McErlean was able to nurse the car through without stopping.
Despite the setbacks, McErlean demonstrated outstanding composure and determination, ensuring the car reached the end of each day—and the rally—safely. When accounting for time lost to incidents, his stage pace represented a significant step forward on asphalt compared to 2025.
Josh McErlean (15th Overall)
“Croatia was a really demanding rally and a dramatic weekend for us. There are positives to take—our tarmac pace has improved and I’m feeling more confident in the car. We still want to put a full clean rally together, but the speed is coming. Now it’s about resetting and carrying that progress into the Canaries.”
Irish Presence Continues to Impress
In further Irish interest, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy pairing of Craig Rahill and Connor Smith finished nineteenth overall in their Ford Fiesta Rally3. Meanwhile, Cavan navigator James Fulton completed the event in 39th overall alongside Japanese driver Yuki Yamamoto aboard their GR Yaris Rally2.
As the championship heads next to Gran Canaria, the Irish contingent leaves Croatia with momentum, resilience, and plenty of optimism—while Takamoto Katsuta stands atop the world rally stage, writing a new chapter in WRC history.