Elfyn Evans will take a 17.8-second lead into the final day of FORUM8 Rally Japan after a dramatic Saturday in which Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT team-mate Oliver Solberg retired from the victory fight.
Evans started the longest leg of the event with a 15.7sec advantage over Solberg, who increased the pressure across Saturday morning and reduced the gap to 10.6sec by midday. However, Solberg’s challenge came to an end on the afternoon’s opening Mt. Kasagi stage when he slid wide at a left-hand corner and struck a tree with the right-rear of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
That promoted Sébastien Ogier to second overall, with Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta completing a Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT top four after 120.22 competitive kilometres on Saturday.
Evans lost time passing Solberg’s stricken car on SS10, but remained in control through a demanding afternoon loop as rising temperatures and tyre wear added to the challenge. He responded on the second pass of Ena by going 3.1sec faster than Ogier, before adding another stage win on Obara to extend his advantage to 20.0sec. Two runs through the Fujioka super special reduced that margin slightly before the overnight halt.
“No way [is it under control],” said Evans after Ena. “There is far too much driving to do. It can always be better clearly.”
The Welshman’s day was not without its own moment of concern. On the final stage, he ran wide at a left-hand corner and came close to the Armco, but escaped without damage.
“There was not a lot of room to spare there,” he added. “Obviously we need to carry on the same way, that’s all. Big day tomorrow.”
Solberg had been one of the standout performers of the morning loop. He won Obara, lost ground to Evans on Ena, then hit back on Mt. Kasagi to bring the gap down to 10.6sec before his rally unravelled on the repeat pass.
Ogier, meanwhile, admitted he had been unable to find the pace required to challenge Evans consistently, despite moving into second following Solberg’s retirement.
“It’s not what we were hoping,” said the nine-time world champion. “We came here to fight for the win and we’re not fighting. We had a similar rally to Elfyn, except for that one stage [Isegami’s Tunnel 1 on Friday]. It was tough and after that I never had the pace to fight back.”
Pajari strengthened his grip on third with an impressive afternoon performance. The Finn won both passes of the Fujioka super special and was fastest on Ena 2, ending the day 44.4sec behind Evans and 26.9sec clear of Katsuta.
“I’m very pleased with the afternoon loop in general,” Pajari said. “I was hoping to find more pace and that’s exactly what we did. Taking a couple of stage wins, from that side it’s really okay.”
Katsuta also enjoyed a stronger Saturday after a frustrating opening day. The Japanese driver moved ahead of Thierry Neuville during the morning and continued to close on Pajari during the afternoon, although he acknowledged that a podium push would require additional risk.
“I’m the same person, the same car,” Katsuta said. “Just a reset – that’s all.”
Adrien Fourmaux ended Saturday fifth overall as the leading Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team driver, 2min 05.2sec from the lead. Team-mate Neuville slipped to sixth after struggling with car balance and an intermittent handbrake issue throughout the day.
“Despite it being a difficult day we had some fun, pushing hard,” Neuville said. “We never found anything to make it work. Struggling with the feeling, feedback and balance.”
Hayden Paddon completed the day seventh in the third Hyundai, ahead of M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Jon Armstrong, who reported improved confidence as the leg progressed. Nikolay Gryazin holds ninth overall and leads WRC2 by 5.7sec from Alejandro Cachón after another close fight between the pair.
Sunday’s final leg features six stages, including two runs through Nukata and Lake Mikawako, with the second pass of Lake Mikawako forming the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage.
