Thierry Neuville edged Adrien Fourmaux by 0.4 s to seize the head of the rally in Sardinia, snapping the grip that had favored the Hyundai duo early on.
Hyundai 1–2–3 Early on
Morning stages saw Hyundai claim a 1‑2‑3 finish; Fourmaux took a 4.6‑s advantage over Neuville before the first 90‑km loop.
On stage five, the tough Tula‑Erula gravel tested tyre durability. Fourmaux matched his morning speed and widened the lead to 8.2 s, while Dani Sordo clocked a solid third fastest time.
Neuville’s Tactical Turn
Neuville responded instantly on stage six, out‑timing Fourmaux by 3.5 s and trimming the gap to 4.7 s.
The Belgian’s final run of the loop was a decisive shift: he felled Fourmaux by 5.1 s, overturning the lead and securing overall advantage.
“Tyre choice and management paid off,” Neuville said. “I was tempted to follow Fourmaux, but I stuck with my own assessment and was satisfied with the result.”
Zonal Standings and Title Fight
Elfyn Evans held sixth place, just 1.08 s adrift from the top, steering safely through road‑cleaning damage that limited his potential.
With a 17‑point edge over Sami Pajari, Evans appears well positioned to capture his first world trophy.
Sami Pajari, trailing Ogier by 2.8 s, was 27.9 s behind Solberg, who began the day 21 points behind the leader yet remained highly competitive.
Solberg’s third‑place finish after a puncture on stage two was flanked by a stellar final stage, leaving him only 12.3 s off the lead.
Other Drivers’ Fortunes
Sebastien Ogier recovered from a puncture on stage three to re‑enter the top‑five, closing narrowly on Pajari.
Ford’s Josh McErlean finished seventh, briefly dealing with a brake‑fluid leak at the end of stage five but without time loss.
M‑Sport teammates Jon Armstrong and Martins Sesks forced pit stops for new tyres early in the day but remained in contention for points.
Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta and Hyundai’s Dani Sordo both incurred substantial setbacks after tyre changes, with Sordo experiencing terminal damage on stage seven after running wide.
Atotal of 123.66 km of gravel await crews on Saturday, providing a further six competitive stages to buffer position and titles.
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