(Reuters) – Elfyn Evans won the Croatia Rally on Sunday for his first victory in 18 months but celebrations were muted after the death last week of Ireland’s Craig Breen.
Hyundai driver Breen died in a crash while testing for the Zagreb-based asphalt event, the fourth round of the championship.
Welshman Evans, now joint top of the championship with part-time team mate Sebastien Ogier, had Breen’s name on the side of his Toyota while Hyundai’s reduced entry of two cars ran with a special livery in the colours of the Irish flag.
“We’ve been working towards this for a long time but it all feels so insignificant at the moment. That’s the bottom line,” said Evans after finishing 27 seconds clear of M-Sport Ford’s Estonian Ott Tanak.
“After the focus of the weekend, we’re all back to missing our friend now. Straightaway after coming across the finish line, that’s all we can think about.
“We promised Craig’s family we would enjoy the weekend, and we’ve done that. We’re all thinking of them right now.”
The win was Evans’s first since Finland in October 2021.
Hyundai’s Espekka Lappi was third, his first podium of the season.
Reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera was fourth for Toyota, and is only a point off the championship lead, with team mates Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta fifth and sixth. Ogier took three bonus points from the final Power Stage.
Evans hit the front on Saturday after first-leg leader Thierry Neuville crashed out. The Belgian returned for the final day and took five bonus points by winning the final stage.
“I am so disappointed for the team and for us after everything that happened. It’s a tough moment, you know. We really wanted that victory — we wanted to make Craig proud — but we missed the opportunity,” said Neuville.
“We gave it everything in here (the final stage). This one was for Craig, so hopefully it’s enough.”
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Clare Fallon)
