One of the most spectacular motorsport competitions in the world – the WRC – will take place in Croatia from April 9 to 12 this year. The ceremonial start will be held in Rijeka, the service park will be located at Automotodrom Grobnik, and the grand finale will take place in Opatija.
Following confirmation that Croatia Rally will remain on the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar, the official route and special stages have been announced, presenting an exceptional challenge for the world’s top rally drivers. From April 9 to 12, the WRC caravan will pass through the counties of Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria, Karlovac and Lika-Senj, connecting the coast, mountains, inland regions and historic towns into a unique sporting and tourism story.
The competition begins with the Shakedown on Thursday, April 9, in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County. On Friday, April 10, crews compete in Istria; on Saturday, April 11, in Gorski Kotar and Karlovac County; while Sunday, April 12, concludes with stages through Vinodol and Senj.
The service park will be based at Automotodrom Grobnik (Municipality of Čavle), serving as the operational hub of the rally, while the ceremonial start will take place on Rijeka’s Korzo, highlighting the international importance of the city and the Kvarner region. The spectacular finish and ceremonial podium will be held in Opatija, one of Croatia’s most renowned tourist destinations.
In addition to Rijeka and Opatija, the route includes numerous attractive special stages across Primorje-Gorski Kotar, Istria, Lika-Senj and Karlovac counties.
In Istria, stages will run through Vodice, Brest, Butoniga, Motovun, Beram, Cerovlje, across Učka and Veprinac. In Gorski Kotar, the rally continues along well-known routes in Skrad, Ravna Gora and Platak, while in Karlovac County it passes through Generalski Stol, Zdihovo, Pećurkovo Brdo and Mrežnički Novaki. Coastal sections will also feature, including Bribir and Novi Vinodolski in Kvarner, as well as Senj and Alan.
A special highlight will be the live TV stages through Generalski Stol and Zdihovo, while the Alan–Senj stage will serve as the spectacular Wolf Power Stage, decisive for crucial championship points.
Daniel Šaškin, President of the Croatia Rally Organizing Committee, emphasized the importance of continuity and growth for both domestic and international audiences:
“With the support of the Government of the Republic of Croatia, counties, cities, tourist boards and all our partners, we continue to present Croatia as a recognized host of a major global motorsport event broadcast live from Croatia to more than 150 countries worldwide. This competition generates strong international promotion, significant tourism potential and substantial economic benefits for local communities through overnight stays, spending and the engagement of a large number of people involved in the organization.”
