P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans fought a mighty duel across eight stages on the opening day of WRC Rally Croatia
Friday started with Neuville dominating the morning loop stages, leading Evans by 8.6 seconds. Evans fought back, keeping Neuville in sight as they left Ogier over 21 seconds behind. Muddy conditions and snow affected grip levels, with Ogier facing challenges from dirt on the road. Despite setbacks, Neuville extended his lead to 10.1 seconds over Evans before a puncture cost him the lead to Evans briefly. Ogier rallied in the last two stages, closing the gap to 6.6 seconds. Tänak struggled in fourth, lacking confidence, while Rossel and Gryazin dominated the WRC2 field with a commanding lead over their rivals.
