Croatia Rally 2022
21. 4. – 24. 4. 2022, Zagreb • AK Delta Timing + AK Cro Dakar Team • asphalt 291.84 km - (cancelled 15.85 km) • total distance including road sections - 1642.18 km • Other years
Info
SS20
"I was sure we could not be so fast with these tyres, but it's amazing. We pushed really hard and I think we deserve it this weekend. For sure, it was the toughest win of my career."
"I didn't take any risks, but Kalle obviously did a good drive. We were fighting for the win, but only because of clever decisions and tyre choices."
"Let's see what happens. I was flat-out for sure. The hard tyre is not correct for this, so Ott should have a better tyre. I gave it my all and we had a few moments. It would be really tough to lose on a tie decision like this. Everything was going well, but it was not on our side."
Punctures
"At the end, I got caught under braking with the hard tyres and we just went straight on. Luckily we got away with it. We were very unlucky with a couple of the small issues we had over the weekend, but at the end the luck was on our side. Everything is good."
"Honestly I didn't do anything crazy. I just wanted to get through the stage and be clean. Unfortunately our mistake with the tyre choice ruined our chances of a podium."
Accident
"I really tried to focus on being as clean as possible and maximising the traction, but it was difficult on the hard tyre. Let's see what the others do - there are maybe some more favourable tyre choices behind. Another disappointing weekend, but we look forward to the next one."
"I hope Kalle does his job, and he should be fine. He is a very good driver so it should be no problem. I had no confidence at all, but the team supported me very well and that's why I was able to survive this rally."
"I'd like some WRC2 tyres, they're nice and soft! There was no grip - we were just crawling through and trying to survive. The Croatian fans have been insane this weekend, so all credit to them."
"It was not a good tyre choice, but it's like this. I think we did our best rally in WRC, even if we had the punctures on the first day. It's good that we had the pace and I think we will do a good season. We have a very strong package and I feel very confident in this car."
"Nothing happened - we just drove through. With the wrong tyres, I don't know what to do. I feel I am still making mistakes even though I am very slow, so it's difficult."
"I was struggling all day with the tyre choice. I made a mistake and it's a big lesson for me. We did a good job in the beginning, but this is how it is."
"There were a few moments in there, but if you want to do a time on a stage like this there will be moments! Happy to be here and happy to take P3."
"It's not bad. Thanks to all my team and everybody who believed me. Such big emotions and we are on the finish line."
"After Monte, I worked very hard with the team and this win is for them. I think the most important thing was to win here. The target is of course to try and win the championship, but there's still a long way to go. I think it's perfect to win our second event."
SS19
Off road and stuck in the ditch
"I didn't know where this weather came from. We had no idea there was going to be rain, and we can not match him with these tyres. The hard is not working at all and there is not much more we can do."
"Kalle is a good driver and he is pushing a lot. In there it was more dirty, so let's see. At least we are safely through."
"I just tried to survive it. I was trying to not make any mistakes but unfortunately I had a spin in there."
"I had a good stage. I tried to keep my rhythm, but the balance of the car with the hard tyre on the front left was understeering a bit. Even if Ott and Kalle have wet tyres, it will be very tricky for them also."
"The hybrid is not needed in there, that's for sure. I was worried that I was getting caught to be honest, it felt really that bad."
"We just survived! It's quite crazy and I was very careful. Nothing happened, so it's fine."
"I was just cruising through, because to score points on the Power Stage you have to be there! We made it."
"Wow. I just tried to finish the stage. Honestly, it was dangerous."
"A bit like in Monte - the grip level is so low. We have full hard tyres and you can not make them warm! It was a little bit like recce speed. If you take the car out of the grip then you can not control it anymore.
Spin
SS18
Off road and damaged front of car
"In the first stage the tyre choice was good, but in this one the soft [compound] would be better. I am happy we didn't lose much time to Ott, but we had quite a clean run at quite an okay pace. It's good."
"In the beginning it was a bit more dirty and probably there it was okay, but in the second part it turned dry. I think we were lucky it was so dirty, otherwise we would have lost a lot of time."
"I could do nothing more in there - absolutely zero."
"I had a good stage. We will continue and see - we want that podium and we're going to get it."
"It looks pretty dirty in there - more than expected. I was just trying not to make the same mistake as last year!"
"It's so difficult. For sure, with every driver the mud is coming more and there is not much of a line. I am happy I am here."
"That is so much worse than last year! Give me four wets and we might be able to be quick on the second pass!
"It was tricky. Honestly, on the hard tyre it's very difficult and they are very complicated stages. We tried to do our best on this one, so let's see."
"Very tricky. On the open fields it's more or less okay, bhut the forest is very slippery with a lot of mud. I got a big confused and touched a block a little bit, so that's it."
missed a junction
SS17
"It was a good start. Now the feeling is a bit more comfortable - we know the pace is there and everything is working. Let's just continue like this and see how the next stage is."
"The tyres aren't working. It's quite dry. We were scared quite a lot with the possible rain and now it's quite sunny, but we had to take the gamble."
"I left a good bit of time in there. I was a bit too cautious in places and didn't let it flow in some of the wider places. The race is still on!"
"I had an okay stage. We have a different tyre choice [to Breen] and I have a second spare wheel as well, but we are going to keep pushing."
"We just need to get cleanly through. It's getting really quite loose in there with all the gravel coming out, but it's okay."
"It has been a very bad past two days, so I am just trying to get the feeling. Now it's dry conditions and I am trying to push more. The main aim is to finish the rally with a good feeling."
"We're saving the tyres! All fine - it's dry and quite abrasive, so I think the softs would be hard to maintain in that stage. It's all cutting up at the end."
"We took it too carefully in the last part. It was a tricky stage and I was not feeling very comfortable with the hard tyre in the wet parts."
SS16
"It's a great day. I think the gap is similar to yesterday, and that's important. I am happy and the car is very great. I was a little bit cautious on the second loop, but it's okay."
"This is my reply! It was a good stage - full speed!"
"Let's see. This afternoon I didn't have a good feeling to really push to the limits. I have been trying, but not really had the feeling."
"That was nice, I enjoyed it. I just needed to have a little reset and I tried to enjoy the driving. We're ready for tomorrow."
"I think we deserve it [a podium], so we should fight for it and get it. But it won't be easy."
"It's been okay. It was a pretty good morning, but the afternoon was more difficult in places. I was on the careful side where it got extremely muddy, but at least we can see the time. We just need to secure the points really.
"Finally, the weather is very nice, so hopefully tomorrow we can have another good day."
"It felt good at the start, but for sure I was losing time towards the end. It was a much better afternoon anyway."
"I tried in this one, but I think in two tight corners it was not clean enough to get the speed for the long straight. For my first proper day in the car I am really happy."
"I would say it's been pretty good. A few spins in the morning loop, but I think the pace was still good. Okay, we had an advantage with the road position, but considering we didn't do much yesterday I am really satisfied."
SS14
"I am not driving at 100 per cent, but it's quite close. I tried to leave the last push out, but you have to be really precise in these conditions. I started to have some vibrations in the car - it was a bit disturbing so we have to check it before the next stage."
"I had a gear change issue [in the previous stagee], but it's fixed now so everything is okay."
"No issues. I tried very hard in there and had a huge landing towards the end, but there's not much more I could do."
"In this stage it was working fine, but it comes and goes so we have to cross our fingers."
"Just not able to commit to be honest. It's difficult when it's like that."
"It's okay, but I am trying to avoid the punctures also because I really need the rain tyre for the next one."
"I really enjoyed it - it's one of my favourite stages. This time was more difficult than the morning. The set-up was working well in some places, but not in others."
"Not a good rhythm in this one - I think I was too cautious, but it was very tricky."
"It's completely dry. I think we have only one corner marked as damp, but there is more pollution than on the previous stage."
SS13
"It's not possible to be faster anymore if you don't take the extra risks. I tried to keep a good pace, but not push too much."
Puncture
"Honestly, that was the most I could do. I tried to be brave and committed to the rave, but in conditions like that it's difficult to commit on the first run over."
"I have an engine problem. I lost the power, so I had maybe the 40 per cent of the power for the last 5km."
"Struggling a bit to be honest - it wasn't the right call from me. This is the longest and probably most abrasive stage, so it's okay."
"It was nicer in there. I made some set-up changes and it's a beautiful stage with some great scenery, so we had fun."
"This stage was a bit better. They were dry conditions so it was more fun to drive. It's tricky out there and we need to be cautious with the soft tyres as we began to lose them near the end."
"It was pretty fun - I enjoyed it. The soft tyre overheated quite a lot at the end, so I struggling in the last kilometres with big slides. We need to think about that for the next stage."
Puncture
SS12
"Ott has been really fast today so I think it's going to be a tricky afternoon, but let's see what we can do. It depends how well we can react and it's also important for us to score some points, so we have to be clever."
"This rally is so tricky and I am happy that we have only had one puncture, so we will try to keep it like this."
"I thought I could leave my braking a little bit later but it wasn't to be. I probably dropped about eight or ten seconds with that, but there we go."
"I am doing my job. I will try to keep the motivation - it's not always easy - but we are here and we won't give up."
Spin
"I think there was a bit of time left in there, but overall it wasn't so bad. Let's see."
"[It happened] near the beginning of the stage. Puncture number five of the weekend. I noticed it after a jump, so maybe it happened on the landing."
"I think it was a good stage."
Puncture
"While braking into the hairpin right, it was very slippery and I spun and stalled the car. We need to find the places which are slippery and it's so hard to recognise on the recce."
Spin
SS11
Fuel leak
"I don't know. It was in the beginning on the small road - we didn't really feel anything."
Puncture
"In these conditions you don't care about the time, you are just happy to get through. The visibility is just to the bonnet, so it's tough."
"I'm happy just to get to the end of that. They were the worst conditions I've seen in my life and I could see absolutely nothing."
"I couldn't get the temperature in the tyres at the beginning, but I guess it was the same for everybody. I tried to keep my rhythm but on a couple of corners it was close!"
"There's no satisfaction, that's for sure. There was no grip on the narrow and visibility was also zero. It's very difficult."
"My target is just to bring the car back, so it's okay."
"If I could see anything, I might be able to use some grip! It's dangerous there. If it clears up, it'll be a lovely stage this afternoon!"
"It was very, very, very difficult. Impossible to see even 10 metres in front, so I took it easy!"
"You can not commit at all - the first corner showed me that already! There is so much water on the road and you are aquaplaning so many times. After the spin I was really slow."
Spin
SS10
Retired -> Super Rally
"It's incredibly difficult now. A clean stage with no mistakes, but it was a lot muddier than I anticipated. It would have been nice to have the wets on there, but for sure we'll need them for the next one."
"The feeling was okay but I had a heavy landing and thought I had a puncture on the rear. We have to check, but maybe we just lost some pressure on the rear."
"It's pretty dirty in there. As always, it's slippery, but all OK. The car is working fine so there are no problems there."
"We had an overshoot in the beginning - the braking was so slippery so I just went straight-on."
"It's a mega stage and I really enjoyed it. A big jump towards the end - it was wet on the entry and I had a bit of a wild landing, but it's all good!"
"We had a small issue with the power steering, so I took it carefully. We know what [the problem] is."
"So much trickier than the first one! It has changed a lot since my gravel crew went through and there is much more dirt than I expected."
SS9
"Let's see. It was pretty difficult in there and the car was sliding a lot in a few corners. Overall the feeling is not so bad."
"It was okay, I just wasn't really getting the braking and it didn't feel so nice. Getting mileage for the rest of the weekend is the main thing."
"If the whole rally is like this it will not be fun! Very tricky. I tried, but it's already so muddy. We will do our own rally and step by step try to push."
"It was a short day yesterday, so I want to understand the car more. The conditions are probably trickier now than yesterday. Yesterday was clearly wet all the time, but now you have some damp patches and dry as well so it's very hard to estimate the grip."
Stopped
SS8
Had to retire after punctures
"It's not been ideal at all. I haven't felt fully at one with everything. The car has been working well, but I struggled for that last bit of confidence. We've still been able to do some good times, but obviously the punctures this morning were very damaging."
"I had a puncture [in the previous stage] and I had a hybrid issue here, but otherwise I think it's not so bad. We have had an okay day. It's unfortunate for the puncture, but this was the maximum we could do."
"It's been an encouraging afternoon, it's just a shame what happened on the stage before. This morning we just tried to get through and implement improvements for the afternoon, and the pace was better and better."
"It's incredibly tricky - I just tried to make no mistakes. We're here and we're close to the podium positions, so we have to be happy."
"This stage was okay - a nice clean run. After the mistake there was no reason for us to push hard and we needed to keep in the rhythm. It's a shame - I don't know what to say to be honest."
Puncture
Puncture
SS7
Accident -> Super Rally
Off road -> Super Rally
Retired -> Super Rally
Retired -> Super Rally
Front left puncture and damaged rear left wheel
Puncture
Puncture
SS6
Retired -> Super Rally
Changing puncture
Off road
"It's dirty, but that'll be more or less the same for everyone I guess. That's a good time from Ott, actually. We're not doing things quite as we should I don't think, but at least it's better than the last one."
"The middle was very bad visibility, so we tried to push but we couldn't see. Today it's too hard to fight with the guys at the front, but I think so far we have been in a good rhythm."
"There was a right-hander with full water aquaplaning and I had nothing in my notes. I got a big shock! We are lucky in one way, but it's very annoying. Luckily the car drives fine, but it's not easy."
"I tried my best in the fog, but I really struggled to be committed sometimes. I'm happy to get through another stage with no mistakes, so it's not so bad."
"It's very difficult. Some corners have so much mud and you have to kill the speed, but it's all okay. We didn't have any moments and our gravel crew did a great job. I need to be patient today and we will get there step by step."
"In the fog, I missed the line and got caught in the mud and slipped off the road. There's a bit of mud in the rim, but once we clear that out it'll be fine."
"I did at least 7 or 8km without any visibility. The whole windscreen is full of fog and I couldn't do anything. We had the blower and heater on since the start, but there is too much water coming into the car."
"Really tough - even foggier than this morning. I just tried to keep the pace so I don't do any mistakes and I tried to leave the last risks out. It seems to be working well."
Spin
SS5
Puncture
Puncture
"Really difficult. The wipers aren't really cleaning the screen when there is mud, so it's not easy when you can't really see what you're doing."
Puncture
"The game plan is waiting for everybody else to have problems! It's so easy to get a puncture, and I can't get [the car] into gears now so I have to go."
"Incredibly tricky. I hit everything in that stage - I heard so many bangs and things. I'm amazed I didn't get a puncture, so hats off [to Pirelli]."
"It felt so much better than this morning, but there is still something missing. Visibility is quite bad in this stage and I was quite careful."
"It was going fine until then, but I didn't hit anything. In the braking, it just collapsed. I don't know."
"We had an alternator issue [earlier today] and we changed the belt, but we lost it again on the way to service. 800m before service the car completely stopped and we had to push it. It was a tricky stage in here and I couldn't rely on the information I had, so I had to drive with my eyes."
Puncture
"It's really dirty now and there are so many cuts. This wet tyre is quite fragile so it's difficult to judge where to cut or not. Let's see how the time is."
SS4
alternator issue
Puncture
Puncture
"I felt nothing again. It's a bit of a mystery. With these cuts you have no choice - it's so dirty, you have to go in. But I felt nothing."
"It's been tricky and we have got some really bad rain now as well. It's challenging, but we are here."
"We are driving clean and just trying to improve my notes and get better. We are lacking a lot of grip and it's very easy to go off the road, so we need to be careful. A lot can happen."
"It's the first time I've driven the car in conditions like this, so I'm happy to make it around.
"I need to work on my driving and I have really no confidence in any stages. I need to do something for myself, and we can also try something on the car set-up as well.
"It's nice to get through the morning and understand how the conditions are. They are by far the slippiest conditions I have driven in, but it's good learning. A bit up and down, but we're happy to be here."
"I think we did a good stage, so the time should be similar. I had a good stage and the feeling was good, but the road is getting more and more dirty. Compared to Monte-Carlo we have already improved our pace."
"I think I was quite comfortable in the car in these tricky conditions and for sure, our starting position has been good. We have been quite a bit faster than the guys behind us, so maybe it's not just the starting position that is helping us."
Puncture
SS3
Accident -> Super Rally
Puncture
Accident
Retired for a day, 3 punctures
SS2
Accident -> Super Rally
Stopped
“We had a small overshoot, I could have made the corner, but I saw the curb & thought it was the safer option, we dropped around over 10sec”
Puncture
small off road
SS1
Accident -> Super Rally
Accident -> Super Rally
"I don't know... I touched a stone with the front right, but for the left I don't know!"
"The first I knew was a warning on the dash and I saw that before I felt anything. Shortly afterwards it started to have an effect and it started to go down."
Double puncture
"It's incredible - it's full of mud in every corner. It's getting really bad and [the suspension] is far too stiff at the moment."
Puncture
"I had a spin and I lost a lot of time. I had to stop and turn around. It's very tricky - it's not the easiest to start with, but it's good fun anyway. We just need to be consistent and work a little bit."
Spin
He clipped an obstacle with the front right wheel
"Tricky, but maybe not as bad as anticipated. It's the first time I've had the wipers on in this car, so it was a lot of discovering."
"Struggling with the conditions and I have no confidence at all. It's getting worse for sure."
"It felt okay and I was trying to find a rhythm, but the time's not there."
Stopped
„The grip was very low, visibility was very low, had some vibrations in the tyre due to the mud – and went into a ditch, just three corners into the stage.“