Evans maintains Rally Japan lead as Solberg crashes out
Elfyn Evans holds a commanding 20-second lead heading into the final day of Rally Japan after a pivotal Saturday. The Welshman managed the challenging conditions and tyre degradation throughout the afternoon to build his cushion, despite a close call with an Armco barrier late in the day. Evans noted that there is still significant work to do before the rally concludes, remaining cautious regarding his current advantage.
Oliver Solberg, who had been mounting a strong challenge during the morning loop, saw his rally end abruptly on the Mt. Kasagi stage. The Swede went wide on a left-hand corner, resulting in heavy contact with a tree that forced his retirement. His exit promoted Sébastien Ogier to second place, though the Toyota veteran expressed frustration over his inability to match Evans’ pace throughout the day.
Sami Pajari capped off a strong performance by securing third, claiming multiple stage wins during the afternoon to distance himself from teammate Takamoto Katsuta. Meanwhile, it was a difficult day for the Hyundai squad; Adrien Fourmaux ended the leg in fifth, while Thierry Neuville slipped to sixth as he struggled with car balance and technical issues. The crews now prepare for the final six stages on Sunday, including the event-concluding Wolf Power Stage.
