Takamoto Katsuta’s victory at the World Rally Championship (WRC) in Croatia has been particularly emotional, as it coincided with the third anniversary of the death of the beloved Irish driver Craig Breen. His co-driver, Aaron Johnston, expressed that this triumph is “very special” for an Irishman, at a moment of remembrance for Breen, who lost his life in an accident during a shakedown for the 2023 edition.
The nostalgia for Breen has been omnipresent in the WRC service park whenever the competition comes to Croatia. Hyundai, which was his previous team, paid tribute to Breen with a special design that featured his face and one of his most famous phrases: “flat to the square right.” This added an emotional touch to the rally, accentuated by the fact that another Irishman occupies the top spot on the podium.
The competition was intense, and Hyundai came close to winning after a mistake by Thierry Neuville in the final stage. Johnston highlighted the significance of this victory, mentioning the emotional connection with the parking and past competitions. “It’s a place that has been difficult for everyone in Ireland due to the loss of Craig. His memory is with us whenever we’re here,” Johnston said.
On the other hand, Johnston did not fail to recognize his rivals, expressing his solidarity with Neuville and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe, who were also vying for victory. The race was frantic, and after an incident that caused a puncture, they managed to overcome the challenge, as they won for the second consecutive time.
With this victory, Johnston and Katsuta lead the WRC standings for the first time with a seven-point advantage over their teammates, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin. “We are first in the standings, but we are still in the early stages of the championship. There’s much more to race and many more corners to tackle,” Johnston added, showing optimism ahead of the next competitions.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI