Elfyn Evans seized the lead in Rally Japan with a flawless opening run, out‑pacing his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Oliver Solberg by 17.7 seconds.
Evans Takes Early Lead
Starting first on the wet‑affected road, Evans capitalised on the compromised surface during the Friday morning stages. A decisive performance in SS2’s Isegami Tunnel, where he posted a 7.5‑second advantage over Solberg, allowed him to dominate the final loop of the day.
“The narrow middle section of Isegami’s Tunnel created cuts that altered the grip, penalising the drivers behind,” Evans explained, confirming that his road position proved beneficial under the deteriorating conditions.
Solberg’s Cautious Approach Costs Time
After claiming the opening stage in Asuke, Solberg elected a conservative pace in SS2, a decision that handed the lead to Evans. In SS3, a sudden deer crossing forced Solberg to brake sharply, costing roughly six seconds and disrupting his rhythm.
He admitted, “I usually anticipate deer movements from Swedish forests, but they behaved unpredictably here, and I lost valuable time.”
Ogier Struggles with Road Position
Defending champion Sébastien Ogier, despite a 0.9‑second gap after stage one, fell 16.7 seconds behind Evans in the second test as the road surface worsened. Starting sixth, he found it impossible to recover on the slick tarmac.
Ogier stated, “We have only covered a small portion of the rally; catching up will require a hard push, though the conditions limit any significant gains.”
Neuville Surprises in the Hyundai Charge
Thierry Neuville, driving the Hyundai i20 N, unexpectedly rose to fourth overall, trailing the two Toyotas by 28.6 seconds. After a challenging shakedown, the 2024 world champion found a comfortable balance in the car and maintained it through the early stages.
“We didn’t anticipate this level of confidence or the chance to contest the Toyotas,” Neuville remarked.
Katsuta and Fourmaux Face Early Set‑up Issues
Takamoto Katsuta endured a poor start when a damp patch caused a left‑rear puncture, forcing a tyre change from soft to hard and adding 25.9 seconds in SS2. The subsequent loss of confidence in his pace notes led to an off‑road incident in SS3.
“This loop has been the toughest I’ve experienced; the unexpected slip and puncture crippled our rhythm,” Katsuta said.
Similarly, Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux criticised an overly aggressive dry‑condition set‑up that struggled on the lingering wet sections, while teammate Hayden Paddon suffered from an ill‑chosen hard tyre, relegating the French duo to seventh and eighth.
As the rally progresses, the battle for podium positions tightens, with Evans defending his lead, while the Toyotas and Hyundais scramble to adapt to the fickle Japanese terrain.
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