In a stunning turn of events at Rally Croatia, Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta claimed the World Rally Championship lead after inheriting victory when Thierry Neuville crashed out on the final stage while holding a commanding lead.
Neuville, the 2024 champion driving for Hyundai, had built a substantial one-minute, 15-second advantage heading into the rally's concluding section. However, the Belgian driver's hopes evaporated when he slid wide on a bend, damaging his car's suspension against a concrete barrier and forcing him to retire from the event.
This dramatic development handed Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston their second consecutive WRC victory, following their breakthrough win in Kenya earlier this season. The Japanese driver now leads the championship standings by seven points over Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans.
"It's unbelievable—we were pushing hard but never expected this outcome," said Katsuta after the podium ceremony. "My heart goes out to Thierry, but this is rallying—anything can happen until the very last corner."
Evans, who crashed out of the lead on Friday, mounted an impressive recovery drive during Sunday's stages, earning valuable bonus points that kept him within striking distance of the championship lead. The Welsh driver's resilience demonstrated why he remains a serious title contender despite the setback.
The rally proved particularly challenging for several other competitors. Motorsport Ireland's Josh McErlean saw his best-ever WRC finish slip away due to a Friday puncture while running fifth, followed by an electrical fire in his M-Sport Ford Puma on Saturday that eliminated him from point-scoring positions.
Neuville's crash carried additional emotional weight as Hyundai was running a special tribute livery honoring the late Craig Breen, who died in a testing accident ahead of Rally Croatia in 2023. The Belgian driver had been seeking his first victory of the season and what would have been a poignant win for the team.
With the championship battle intensifying, the WRC now heads to the Canary Islands for the next round from April 23-26, where Katsuta will aim to defend his newly acquired lead against a determined field of challengers.