WRC Croatia: Thierry Neuville vows to fight back after final stage shock

Katsuta admits “pain” for rival after dramatic late mistake costs Hyundai victory

Thierry Neuville has vowed to “come back stronger” after a costly final stage mistake let slip a likely first win of the World Rally Championship season for Hyundai in Croatia.

The 2024 world champion had been afforded the luxury to back off through Sunday’s asphalt stages having built a lead of more than a minute, and seemed on course to end Hyundai’s winless start to 2026.

However, Neuville was caught out by a section on the final stage which resulted in an impact to the front right of his i20 N that caused significant damage. It was enough to retire from the rally, handing the victory to Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta in dramatic circumstances.

Clearly devastated by the mistake, Neuville says he “won’t give up” and that his time will come again.

“Unfortunately first of all I would like to express all my excuses to the whole team and all the people working with me throughout the year, obviously this is a huge disappointment for us,” said Neuville.

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“We are the first, [co-driver] Martijn [Wydaeghe] and myself, to be super disappointed and didn’t expect that but unfortunately the rally can strike even at the very last stage. We were driving according to plan and the target was to get through the final stage.

"But unfortunately I just got surprised and I probably turned a bit early into the corner and I slid a bit and the first reaction was to open the wheel and then what happened, happened.

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Photo by: Hyundai

"It will be a tough time now but we have no choice, we have to come back stronger. We will keep fighting and we don’t want to give up. Our time will come again. It is a tough time we are going through but we will be back."

Hyundai had been desperate for a win to turn around what has been a difficult start to the year, having been outclassed by rivals Toyota.

“Absolutely [we will be putting an arm around Thierry]. I cannot do anything that will make Thierry feel worse than he is,” Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley told Motorsport.com.

“There is nobody more devastated than Thierry. We have no comprehension of the stress and the pressure those drivers are under. Being one minute in front is probably as stressful as being five seconds behind.

“From the perspective of making the mistake, if there was one person in the top 20 of this rally where you gave them a one-minute lead and they just have to get to the end of the stage, it would be Thierry. He knows how to do that and the person you would choose, but he made a mistake.

“I have been around rallying for quite a long time. This team needs this kind of result because everybody is doing a superhuman effort. I have only been with the team six months but I cannot believe how much these people want to win. Everybody in the team will feel devastated."

While the team missed out on a victory, it did leave Croatia with a third-place finish for its third car driven by Hayden Paddon.

"We have to celebrate the small success and Hayden and John [Kennard, co-driver] on the podium is a fantastic success," Wheatley added. "I think if we said that 12 months ago nobody would have imagined that would be possible. I 100% believed he had the pace to be in the top five."

Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Victorious Katsuta feels Neuville’s pain

Rally winner Katsuta was visibly stunned to secure the victory that has seen him become the first Japanese driver to lead the WRC standings with a seven-point margin over Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans.

The triumph comes just weeks after Katsuta claimed a breakthrough maiden win at Safari Rally Kenya.

Having been through his fair share of lows in the WRC, Katsuta was sorry to see what happened to Neuville.

“People were saying that when you win, the next one comes quick but I was not believing it,” said Katsuta.

“But I’m a bit surprised how it happened this weekend. Obviously I am very sorry for Thierry, Martijn and the Hyundai guys, that is the most important feeling in myself now.

“Of course I need to be happy for my team and everybody and [co-driver] Aaron [Johnston]. I think we did a clever job this weekend. I have had similar moments, so that is why I feel pain for him [Thierry]."