The reigning world champion won last year’s visit to Croatia after coming through a thrilling final stage showdown with then Hyundai driver Ott Tanak.
While the route is largely unchanged from last year, Rovanpera believes the roads are rougher and will feature more cuts with more sharp edges on the sections of differing tarmac compared to 12 months ago.
Significant rain in the lead up to the event has ensured the cuts are full with mud which will then be brought onto the road surface making the conditions increasingly slippery after each pass.
“It seems there is a lot more cuts which are now rough and deep with more shape edges on the tarmac and there were a lot of punctures on the recce which is not normal,” said Rovanpera.
“For me it seems rougher than last year. I had many cuts that were fine last year and this year they are not. It seems a lot rougher.
“I think it it will be a bit more puncture management this year than normal. We had so many punctures on the recce, it can be that if you are more clever it will reward you more this year.”
Rovanpera topped Thursday’s shakedown held in a subdued atmosphere following the death of Hyundai driver Craig Breen in testing for the event last week.
Toyota team-mate and championship leader Sebastien Ogier, who won the inaugural WRC visit to Croatia in 2021, shared Rovanpera’s views on the stages this weekend.
Source: Autosport