Reigning champion Kalle Rovanpera was victorious on the Zagreb-based meeting last year from then Hyundai driver Ott Tanak, whilst Sebastien Ogier finished top of the pile on the Championship’s first visit to the Baltic State 12 months earlier in 2021 despite being involved in a r♛oad traffic accident on the final morning.

Both are in action once again this weeꦿkend, with Ogier – who i♚s contesting a bit-part programme for the second consecutive season – something of a surprise starter given that Croatia Rally was never originally part of his original plans.

However, recent performances on asphalt, which includes a win💖 on Rally Spain last October and a record-extending ninth victory on January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo, has forced a rethink on th꧟e Frenchman’s part.

Two visits to the top step of the podium could potentially have ⛦been three on Rally Japan for the 39-year-old but for a costly puncture that ruled him out of contention.

Looking ahead to Croatia Rallꦆy, which has🐷 been overshadowed by the death of Hyundai Motorsport’s Craig Breen following a pre-event testing accident last Thursday, Latvala said: “We know that the Croatia Rally can be a very challenging event.

“Last year the conditions were extremely difficult, and even in the dry there is🔜 still a lot of dirt brought onto the road.

“It has been a good rally for us on our previous two visits and, together with our drivers, we will try to make it ano꧟ther successful weekend. As Championship leader, Seb will be first on the road and thiꦑs is a good starting point.

“Kalle had one of his best performances last year in Croatia, shoꦅwing how good he is when the conditions got difficult, and we know Elfyn [Evans] can also be strong whenever grip levels are changin𝄹g a lot,” he added.

Much of this weekend’s route is familiar to 2022 and after Thursday morning shakedown the competitive action ⛦begins on Friday when crews will face eight special stages followed by a further eight timed tests on Saturday.

Sunday brings the meeting to a close, with the leg including the end-of-rally Power Stage where a maximum of five points ❀is available to the Rally1 driver who records the quickest time.

Meanwhile, Toyota Gazoo R♉acing has announced that Microsoft will be “more visible” on all three of their points-scoring cars from round four of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship onwards.