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Jon Armstrong says that Rally Croatia is a "special event" as he prepares for the fourth round of the World Rally Championship.
M-Sport Armstrong won his first Junior WRC event in Croatia in 2021 and also won the European Rally Championship event there last year as he came up just short of the title.
The 31-year-old from Northern Ireland is competing in his first season in the WRC's top tier and has a best finish of in eighth Sweden with co-driver Shane Byrne.
"It holds a lot of great memories," Armstrong said about the tarmac rally in Croatia.
"This year's stages are closer to the coast, bringing a fresh challenge with a faster, more circuit-like flow.
"After a strong pre-event test, I'm excited to see what kind of pace we can deliver."
For his Motorsport Ireland team-mate Josh McErlean, he heads to Croatia looking to turn his season around after a disappointing start to the year.
Three accidents in Monte Carlo put him on the back foot, before a ninth place in Sweden was followed by a Safari Rally Kenya that was plagued by technical issues.
It will be his debut at Rally Croatia, and he says "what's done is done this season".
"I can't change it, but I can learn from it," said McErlean, who is co-driven by Eoin Treacy.
"Getting the absolute basics right will mean that the pace we are looking for will come along more easily".
He added that Croatia will be a "good challenge" and the "basics need to be nailed".
"Croatia is another important rally for me to keep improving on tarmac and focus on myself, the feeling and my driving.
"The goal is a clean, consistent weekend and to keep progressing."
Richard Millener, team principal at M-Sport, said the rally will give his drivers a "real opportunity to deliver strong performances".
"It's nice to return to Croatia for the first full Tarmac event of the season," he said.
"Jon and Shane's ERC win last year gives them real confidence on these roads, and their experience here should support Josh and Eoin on their Croatian debut.
"The upgraded route adds new challenges, so past knowledge can only take you so far - precision and adaptability will be crucial in succeeding on this event, but the new stages give these younger crews real opportunity to deliver strong performances."
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M-Sport Armstrong won his first Junior WRC event in Croatia in 2021 and also won the European Rally Championship event there last year as he came up just short of the title.
The 31-year-old from Northern Ireland is competing in his first season in the WRC's top tier and has a best finish of in eighth Sweden with co-driver Shane Byrne.
"It holds a lot of great memories," Armstrong said about the tarmac rally in Croatia.
"This year's stages are closer to the coast, bringing a fresh challenge with a faster, more circuit-like flow.
"After a strong pre-event test, I'm excited to see what kind of pace we can deliver."
For his Motorsport Ireland team-mate Josh McErlean, he heads to Croatia looking to turn his season around after a disappointing start to the year.
Three accidents in Monte Carlo put him on the back foot, before a ninth place in Sweden was followed by a Safari Rally Kenya that was plagued by technical issues.
It will be his debut at Rally Croatia, and he says "what's done is done this season".
"I can't change it, but I can learn from it," said McErlean, who is co-driven by Eoin Treacy.
"Getting the absolute basics right will mean that the pace we are looking for will come along more easily".
He added that Croatia will be a "good challenge" and the "basics need to be nailed".
"Croatia is another important rally for me to keep improving on tarmac and focus on myself, the feeling and my driving.
"The goal is a clean, consistent weekend and to keep progressing."
Richard Millener, team principal at M-Sport, said the rally will give his drivers a "real opportunity to deliver strong performances".
"It's nice to return to Croatia for the first full Tarmac event of the season," he said.
"Jon and Shane's ERC win last year gives them real confidence on these roads, and their experience here should support Josh and Eoin on their Croatian debut.
"The upgraded route adds new challenges, so past knowledge can only take you so far - precision and adaptability will be crucial in succeeding on this event, but the new stages give these younger crews real opportunity to deliver strong performances."
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