Evans closes out Saturday with comfortable lead
Evans took a commanding 1m49.9s lead over team-mate Sebastien Ogier into the day’s eight stages after starring in treacherous wet conditions on Friday. The Welsh driver conceded time to Ogier across Saturday’s stage but will head into Sunday’s final six stages with a margin of 1m15.0s. Toyota remained on course to secure a podium lockout […]
Evans emerges from snow shower with lead intact
The Toyota driver carefully navigated through a trio of twisty asphalt stages — one affected by snow — with a 1m14.3s advantage over team-mate Sebastien Ogier. World champion Kalle Rovanpera held onto third (+1m38.9s) to preserve a Toyota 1-2-3, ahead of Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi (+3m16.8s). M-Sport’s Ott Tanak climbed to fifth while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta […]
FIA explains bizarre WRC Rally Japan stage stoppage
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville was the first to come across the stranded zero car which was pulled over to one side of the road midway through the 20.32km Nukata Forest test. Unaware of the stationary vehicle ahead, Neuville, who rejoined the rally after crashing out of second on stage six yesterday, briefly stopped before passing the […]
Evans in control as Ogier nibbles at deficit
The Toyota driver could afford to take a measured approach given his sizeable advantage, but ended the morning loop, held in dry conditions, winning two of the four stages, to lead by 1m35.5s. Nearest rival Ogier was able to claw 14.4s back on Evans across the morning. Toyota’s lockout of the top three positions continued […]
Organisers red flag stage nine
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville was the first to come across the stranded zero car which was pulled over to one side of the road midway through the 20.32km Nukata Forest test. Neuville, who rejoined the rally after crashing out of second on stage six yesterday, passed the car but soon switched into road mode for the […]
Neuville “in too much of a rush” to catch WRC Japan leader Evans
Neuville had closed to within 10.5s of Evans and looked set to offer the Toyota driver stern challenge for victory before his rally unravelled on stage six (Inabu Dam, 19.38km). The Belgian had survived horrendous wet conditions across the morning stages before taking 15s out of Evans on stage five. However, a compression in the […]
Evans extends lead after Ogier penalty
Evans completed the day’s six stages with a 1m49.9s advantage over eight-time world champion Ogier, who incurred a one-minute penalty before the last stage of the day. The Frenchman checked out of the final service six minutes late following a repair to the door of his GR Yaris which was damaged during stage five. Evans […]
Evans heads Toyota 1-2-3 after Neuville exit
Evans put his Toyota GR Yaris into a 26.0s lead over Neuville after winning the morning’s two stages held in extreme wet conditions, but the Welshman came under pressure from Neuville in the afternoon. Neuville’s charge came to a halt after a crash on stage six which helped push Evans into 50.9s lead over Toyota […]
Neuville crashes out, easing pressure on Evans
Neuville had closed to within 10.5s of Evans heading into stage six but his rally came to a premature halt 100 metres into the stage. The Belgian lost control of his i20N which found the trees causing terminal damage to the front of his car. Last year’s Rally Japan winners Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe […]