Elfyn Evans leads Ott Tänak by just 0.7 seconds after a chaotic Friday morning at Rally Japan, as championship leader Thierry Neuville faced major setbacks with power issues in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. Toyota’s hopes in the manufacturers’ title race also took an early hit with punctures for Sébastien Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta.
Evans vs. Tänak: A Battle at the Top
Evans delivered a measured performance to take the rally lead from Tänak on SS4, capitalizing on the Estonian’s cautious approach and Neuville’s sudden misfortunes. Despite his advantage, Evans remains wary of the unpredictable nature of Rally Japan.
“It doesn’t change anything,” Evans said. “This rally is renowned for challenges, so it’s not easy.”
Tänak, who briefly led after SS3, kept pace but acknowledged Neuville’s issues with little enthusiasm, stating simply: “Not good news.”
Neuville’s Power Problems
Thierry Neuville, who started the day strong with a stage win on SS2, encountered a significant power issue mid-way through SS4, costing him 40 seconds. The problem left him unable to compete at full capacity, and with no service stop until the evening, his team faces a race against time to restore his car’s performance.
“I don’t know [what’s wrong],” a frustrated Neuville admitted. “No power.”
Despite his troubles, Neuville remains in third place, 31.0 seconds clear of Katsuta, but his championship ambitions may hinge on his team resolving the issue quickly.
Toyota’s Tough Start
Toyota’s manufacturers’ title hopes suffered early blows when both Ogier and Katsuta ran into trouble on SS2. Ogier punctured and lost over two minutes, while Katsuta damaged a tire, dropping him out of contention for the podium.
Ogier staged a comeback with a stage win on SS4, climbing to ninth overall but remains over 30 seconds behind the top five.
Midfield Battles and Mishaps
Adrien Fourmaux and Andreas Mikkelsen provided plenty of action in the midfield. Fourmaux dropped to fifth after losing significant time on the slippery roads, while Mikkelsen gained an edge over Grégoire Munster, who spun his car to avoid crashing into a wall on SS3.
“There was a slippy braking [zone] which I didn’t have in my pacenotes,” Munster explained. “I had to make the car spin to avoid going straight into the wall.”
WRC2 Drama: Gryazin Leads, Pajari Stays in the Hunt
In WRC2, Nikolay Gryazin holds a commanding 46.7-second lead after Sami Pajari suffered a front-left puncture, costing him over 30 seconds. Despite the setback, Pajari remains in a championship-winning position, aided by Gus Greensmith’s rear-brake failure that damaged his Škoda.
“A lot has been going, but it’s still quite OK for the moment,” Pajari said. “I just need to keep focused and drive how I feel.”
Leaderboard After SS4
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota) – 40m32.7s
- Ott Tänak (Hyundai) – +0.7s
- Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – +31.0s
- Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota) – +62.0s
- Adrien Fourmaux (M-Sport) – +64.7s
- Andreas Mikkelsen (Skoda) – +76.3s
- Grégoire Munster (Hyundai) – +88.9s
- Sami Pajari (Toyota, WRC2) – +135.4s
What’s Next?
With Evans and Tänak locked in a tight battle at the front and Neuville fighting to overcome his power issues, Rally Japan promises high-stakes drama as the weekend unfolds. Toyota’s fight for the manufacturers’ title looks increasingly challenging, but Evans could still play spoiler if he maintains his form. For Neuville, the championship may hinge on whether his Hyundai can recover its pace before it’s too late.