Saturday’s Croatia Rally programme will also feature the fight for points in the Croatian International Zonal Championship (MZPH) and the Croatian Rally Championship. The itinerary consists of six special stages totalling 116.66 kilometres, finishing on the ramp at the Westgate service park. It will be the penultimate round of the season, which concludes on the last weekend of October at the 4. Međimurje Rally.
Fourmaux to Compete in the Croatian International Zonal Championship
For the first time ever, a Rally1 car will compete in the Croatian International Zonal Championship – a Hyundai i20 N driven by Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team’s Adrien Fourmaux, who also holds the Power Stage record on Zagorska Sela – Kumrovec (14.24 km in 8:01.7). According to ERC regulations, the Rally1 car may only run after all European Championship crews, so Fourmaux will start with number 61 behind Luka Latinović (Renault Clio Rally4).
Only seven points separate the MZPH leaders, Slovenia’s Rok Turk and reigning champion Antal Kovacs from Hungary. Both are in Hyundai i20 Rally2 cars, as is third-placed Matteo Bernini from Italy, who drives an older R5-specification version. Class 1 is extremely tight: Vjekoslav Čičko (Škoda Fabia) and Janos Szilagyji (Peugeot 208 Rally4) are level on points, while third-placed Daniel Vojvodić (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo III) has just one point more than Nenad Lončarić (Subaru Impreza STI).
Marko Fakin (Renault Clio Rally5) holds a firmer lead in Class 2 ahead of Tomas Hrvatin (Renault Clio RS). Third-placed Tomislav Postružin (Citroën C2) can breathe easier, as Dario Merlić will move up to a higher-class car – a Peugeot 208 Rally4 – for Croatia Rally. Igor Mandić (VW Polo Cup) has taken advantage of Alessandro Biondo’s (Peugeot 106) run of three consecutive retirements to lead by 10 points over Nikola Labaš (Škoda Fabia 1.4 16v), with Alen Mađer (Opel Adam Cup) in third.
Bernini Dreaming of the Title Ahead of His 17th Birthday
Italy’s Matteo Bernini, driving a Hyundai i20 R5 under AK Opatija Motorsport, currently leads Vjekoslav Čičko (Škoda Fabia) by five points. Third-placed Janos Szilagyi (Peugeot 208 Rally4) remains a genuine title contender, 11 points behind Bernini. Fourth and fifth places are held by Nenad Lončarić (Subaru Impreza STI) and Marko Fakin (Renault Clio Rally5).
The season began with the 4th Quattro River Rally, won by Viliam Prodan in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Bernini then triumphed at the 25. Rally Poreč and the 51. Zagreb Delta Rally before crashing out of a comfortable lead at the 14. Motul Rally Kumrovec – a twist that allowed Čičko to close the gap.
Local rally fans are delighted by the return of Jan Pokos (Ford Fiesta Rally3). He missed the first part of the season after narrowly missing out on the title last year due to a mechanical failure. He is currently seventh overall, just one point behind fourth-placed Lončarić.
Title battles remain open in all classes. Janos Szilagyi leads Class 1 ahead of Čičko, who skipped the QRR in early April, with Nenad Lončarić in third. In Class 2, Marko Fakin leads Tomas Hrvatin, who missed the Delta Rally, with Tomislav Postružin third. Igor Mandić (VW Polo Cup) heads Class 3 from Nikola Labaš (Škoda Fabia 1.4 16v) and Alen Mađer (Opel Adam Cup).
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