› Multiple punctures play decisive role in the outcome of the WRC2 classification at the fourth round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship.
› Delta Rally Team’s Roberto Daprà/Luca Guglielmetti finish sixth in WRC2, achieving the best result for a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew.
› Former WRC2 Champions Emil Lindholm and Andreas Mikkelsen, both competing with Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of team Toksport WRT, delayed by punctures.
Rijeka (CRO), 12 April 2026 – As the first proper tarmac event of the FIA World Rally Championship, the stages of Croatia Rally offered little room for error. Even the slightest mistake often resulted in a damaged tyre. With a wheel change costing competitors roughly two minutes each time, the results table was turned on its head repeatedly. After more than 300 competitive kilometres on twisty roads close to the Mediterranean Sea, Delta Rally Team’s Roberto Daprà and co-driver Luca Guglielmetti reached Rijeka as best-placed Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew: Despite a puncture, the Italians finished sixth in WRC2.
In theory, the stages of Croatia Rally consisted of asphalt from start to finish. „But we are encountering more and bigger stones than on some gravel events,“ Andreas Mikkelsen reported after the first leg. The reason: Through excessive corner cutting, tons of dirt were dragged onto the racing lines. Especially for the second runs over the stages, the roads had deteriorated into something resembling a gravel rally.
These conditions made it extremely difficult for the drivers, to judge the grip level in the corners. Basically every competitor experienced spins and small offs. With banks and rock faces often lining the stages, tyre dramas struck throughout the leaderboard not only in WRC2. Most of the times, completing the stage on a damaged tyre or even a wheel change with the clock running was unavoidable, resulting in delays of up to two minutes.
Among the first drivers to experience such setbacks were former WRC2 Champions Emil Lindholm and Andreas Mikkelsen, both at the wheel of Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of team Toksport WRT, as well as Roberto Daprà, who competed with a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 of Delta Rally Team. Roberto Daprà and co-driver Luca Guglielmetti had to change a wheel on Friday morning (SS3). After that, the Italians managed to stay out of trouble for the rest of the event. They eventually finished sixth in WRC2, scoring the best result of all Škoda crews. “In general, we showed good pace. I’m very happy and now looking forward to the next WRC2 round on the Canary Islands,” commented Roberto Daprà.
Emil Lindholm from Finland and new Brazilian co-driver Gabriel Morales experienced their first puncture already during the very first stage. After a further puncture (SS9), seventh place in the WRC2 category was the best they could hope for. Andreas Mikkelsen and navigator Jørn Listerud were even unluckier. The Norwegians lost more than six minutes over the course of the three legs and had to settle for eleventh place in the final WRC2 classification.
“A rally to forget,” was Eric Camilli’s conclusion already on Saturday evening. He and fellow French co-driver Thibault De La Haye had demonstrated the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2’s tarmac speed with the fastest WRC2 time during shakedown. They escaped a first small off with only a tyre change (SS7). However, a second spin caused too much damage to the rear of the Eurosol Racing Team Hungary car for them to continue (SS15).
In contrast, Viliam Prodan and co-driver Marko Stiperski had reason to celebrate. The Croatians brought their RB Motorsport-run Škoda Fabia RS Rally2’s home in 12th place in the WRC2 category and 18th place overall – the best result for a local crew.
The following WRC event will again feature tarmac stages only: Rally Islas Canarias – Rally of Spain is next already in two weeks’ time (23-26 April 2026).
Number of the rally: 11
After a puncture-inflicted first stage, Emil Lindholm and co-driver Gabriel Morales were listed as a low as 18th in WRC2. However, giving up was never an option for the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew from team Toksport WRT. During the subsequent 17 stages, the Finnish-Brazilian duo made up an impressive 11 places. Scoring one WRC2 fastest stage time on the way, they ultimately secured seventh place in the WRC2 category.
Croatia Rally (CRO), 9-12 April 2026,
4th round of the FIA World Rally Championship, Result WRC2
1 Yohan Rossel/Arnaud Dunand (FRA/FRA), Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, 2:56.35.7 hours
2 Léo Rossel/Guillaume Mercoiret (FRA/FRA), Citroën C3 Rally2, +38.8 seconds
3 Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov (BUL/KGZ), Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, +57.9 seconds
4 Alejandro Cachón/Borja Rozada (ESP/ESP), Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, +1.22.9 minutes
5 Roope Korhonen/Anssi Viinikka (FIN/FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, +1.34.1 minutes
6 Roberto Daprà/Luca Guglielmetti (ITA/ITA), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, +2.18.2 minutes
7 Emil Lindholm/Gabriel Morales (FIN/BRA), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, + 4.00.6 minutes
Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 4 of 14 events)
1 Léo Rossel (FRA), Citroën, 42 points
2 Roope Korhonen (FIN), Toyota, 35 points
3 Yohan Rossel (FRA), Lancia, 27 points
4 Robert Virves (EST), Škoda, 25 points
5 Roberto Daprà (ITA), Škoda, 25 points
6 Nikolay Gryazin (BUL), Lancia, 23 points
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