Nikolay Gryazin holds narrow lead heading into Rally Japan finale

Nikolay Gryazin maintains a slim 5.7-second lead in the WRC2 category following a demanding Saturday at FORUM8 Rally Japan. Despite battling vibrations from a damaged wheel earlier in the day, Gryazin managed to pull ahead of Alejandro Cachón during the afternoon stages. However, Cachón mounted a significant comeback in the final four stages, securing three fastest times to keep the gap narrow before Sunday's conclusion.

The contest for the final podium position shifted in favor of Yuki Yamamoto following a crash for Fabrizio Zaldivar. Zaldivar’s Toyota became beached on a bank during the second pass of Mt. Kasagi, forcing his retirement and promoting the local driver to third place. Yamamoto now holds a substantial 47.2-second advantage over Emil Lindholm heading into the closing six stages.

Elsewhere in the field, Norihiko Katsuta remains at the helm of the WRC Masters Cup, commanding a lead of over five minutes. In WRC3, Ghjuvanni Rossi continues to dominate the standings, holding a lead exceeding 20 minutes over Georgios Vasilakis as the rally nears its finish.