Croatia will host the first tarmac rally of the 2023 WRC season this weekend. Read our preview to find out more about the event:
The WRC heads to Croatia in a sombre mood following the death of Hyundai driver Craig Breen, whoThe 33-year-old was set to make his second WRC start of the season in the third Hyundai entry, which hasAs a mark of respect and after discussions with Breen’s family and with his surviving co-driver James Fulton, Hyundai will field two cars for Thierry Neuville, sitting second in the championship standings, and Esapekka Lappi.
M-Sport-Ford’s challenge will be headed by Rally Sweden winner Ott Tanak. The 2019 world champion, who sits fourth in the title race, was pipped to victory by Rovanapera at this event 12 months ago. Sebastien Ogier won the inaugural event after pipping team-mate Elfyn Evans by 0.6s, the third-smallest winning margin, while Kalle Rovanpera took the spoils after defeating Ott Tanak in a final stage showdown last year.
Reigning champion Toyota has not stood still. The pronounced air boxes that adorned the flanks of the car to cool the hybrid unit have been replaced with a much smoother more aerodynamic design, as it was found the 2022 design overestimated the amount of cooling required for the hybrid unit This has resulted in a re-design of the rear fenders and arches. The rear wing has also been tweaked to compensate for the new aero package.
Meanwhile, M-Sport has unveiled a bold new look for its Puma Rally1 with an electric blue and pink livery, replacing its popular purple colours from last season. While the car looks similar to its 2022 model, the team plans to continue its development during the season.Drivers will have the use of hybrid power during every stage, with power boosts activated by the throttle pedal, while further boosts will be unlocked through energy regeneration under braking during stages.
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