Croatia rally weather game

Just as Rallye Monte-Carlo can be turned on its head by a sudden snowfall in the French Alps, so can Zagreb be turned by the turn of a cloud – just look at last year. Remember Ott Tänak’s inspired choice of wet weather Pirellis for the final day? Was it raining? Can be? Absolutely.

The penultimate stage was a washout, when the Estonian could turn a half-minute deficit into the lead. However, he missed out on the victory due to the combination of quickly drying roads and Kalle Rovanperä, who was charging hard.

But talk to Rovanperä about the conditions in Croatia, and you’re left with a slightly pensive look. Be prepared for the unexpected – for the first time on the road in 2021, he spotted that very slippery section at the end of the opening test and crashed his Yaris WRC car onto the beach.

Next, Sébastien Ogier had to do the same by the cat’s whisker. The rest had offered good grip, but that one part was slippery from Teflon.

If the rain arrives, expect the road and grip to change with every passing car as the cuts get deeper and the asphalt gets dirtier.

In that case, championship leader Ogier should be at his best – but the Frenchman has seen it all before and, like his colleagues, takes nothing for granted.

There may not be the snow and ice of Monte-Carlo, but Croatia could be just as big a gamble this week.