Evans opens lead at Rally Japan
Welsh driver built a 17.7-second advantage after slippery morning stages
Elfyn Evans of Wales took command of Rally Japan after the morning loop, extending a lead to 17.7 seconds following a tricky set of asphalt stages. The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver recovered from a slow fourth-place in the new Asuke opener to win the demanding Isegami’s Tunnel stage and then add victory on Inabu/Shitara, arriving at the midday service in control. Evans held a margin over team-mate Oliver Solberg of Sweden, who had won the opening stage, while defending champion Sébastien Ogier of France sat a close 0.5 seconds behind Solberg in third.
Overnight rain left damp patches under the trees, turning tyre choice into a critical and recurring challenge across the narrow, technical forest stages. The slippery conditions produced incidents early on: home favourite Takamoto Katsuta clipped a bank on Asuke and suffered a left‑rear puncture. Solberg had the strongest start, edging Sami Pajari by 0.2 seconds for the first stage win, but Evans’s 24.29 km effort through Isegami’s Tunnel—7.5 seconds faster than Solberg—shifted the momentum and put him 6.4 seconds ahead before he stretched the advantage further later in the loop.
Drivers and teams stressed tyre management and measured aggression as essential on the route’s mix of fast sections and tight corners, where minor errors can cost heavily and roadside obstacles leave little margin for recovery. With several championship contenders remaining close on the leaderboard and crews monitoring forecasts for possible further rain, the afternoon stages promise tactical battles that could reshuffle positions. Evans’s morning pace gives him a strong platform, but the rally’s narrow mountain roads and variable grip mean the outcome remains open as the event progresses.
Rally Japan is a round of the World Rally Championship held in Japan, featuring challenging asphalt stages that run through forested and mountainous regions, often in variable weather conditions.
