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 fi♛rst visit to the Baltic State 12 months earlier in ღ2021 despite being involved in a road traffic accident on the final morning.

Both are in action on🍨ce again this weekend, with Ogier 🌼– who is 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 l🤡ast October and a record-extending ninth victory on January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo, has forced a rethink on the Frenchman’s part.

Two visits to the top step of the podium could potentially have been three on Rally Japan for the 3ℱ9-year-old but for a costly puncture that ruled him out of contention.

Looking ah꧋ead to Croatia Rally, which has been overshadowed by t🀅he 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 𝓰in 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 another succes𒐪sful weekend. As Championship leader, Seb will be 🌸first on the road and this is a good starting point.

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

Much of this weekend’s route is familiar to 2022 and after Thursday morninཧg shakedown the competitive action begi🐓ns 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 includiꦯng the end-of-rally Power Stage where a maximum of five points is available to the Rally1 driver who records the quickesꦺt time.

Meanwhile, Toy🍬ota Gazoo Racing 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.