Rally Sweden is poised for a heart-stopping finish. Just three seconds separate the top three contenders as Elfyn Evans clings to a slender lead, with Takamoto Katsuta and Thierry Neuville poised to pounce.
Evans, fresh off a second-place finish at Rallye Monte-Carlo, began Saturday with a razor-thin 0.6-second advantage over Katsuta. The morning stages witnessed a fierce battle between the two Toyota drivers, neither willing to give an inch. They were almost inseparable through the high-speed, ice-laden tests near Umeå.
But the afternoon brought a crucial turning point. Evans seized the initiative, extending his lead to a seemingly comfortable 8.6 seconds. This surge was partly thanks to a costly error from Katsuta, who overshot a junction on SS12.
Just as Evans appeared to be in control, disaster struck. A stalled engine on a tight left-hander in the day’s closing stage dramatically reduced his lead to a mere 3 seconds, injecting fresh drama into the fight for victory.
“Coming into the junction, I lost the rear and it just stalled under braking,” a visibly frustrated Evans explained. “It’s not ideal, to say the least.”
Katsuta, still seeking his maiden WRC win, remained composed despite the roller-coaster day. “I want to finish the rally, that’s it,” he said cautiously, mindful of his previous incidents. “I’ll talk to the team and see what they say. Of course, I’m hungry, but I’ve learned to be patient.”
Neuville, the reigning world champion, emerged as a serious contender with a stunning performance on Saturday. Starting the day in fifth, he charged into third place, overtaking Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak, who struggled with a coolant leak. Just 6.3 seconds behind Evans, Neuville is perfectly positioned to seize any opportunity.
“We have to prepare well tonight and give it a try tomorrow,” Neuville commented. “I’m happy with today. We had a good rhythm and managed the risks. Hopefully, we can carry that momentum into tomorrow.”
While the top three battled for the lead, other drivers faced their own challenges. The rally delivered heartbreak for Adrien Fourmaux. After a promising start on Friday, his podium hopes were dashed by a series of misfortunes, culminating in a slide into a snowbank. Meanwhile, two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä recovered from a subdued Friday to climb to fifth, closing the gap to Tänak to just 10.1 seconds.
M-Sport Ford driver Mārtiņš Sesks held onto sixth place despite a spin in the fading light of SS13. He leads Toyota’s young gun Sami Pajari by 12.2 seconds. Ford drivers Josh McErlean and Grégoire Munster occupy eighth and ninth, respectively, while WRC2 leader Oliver Solberg rounds out the top 10.
The stage is set for an epic showdown on Sunday. Three stages and nearly 70km of challenging terrain will determine the winner of Rally Sweden. Will Evans withstand the pressure? Can Katsuta seize his first victory? Or will Neuville snatch the win with a final-day masterclass? The answers await in the Swedish snow.
Standings after Saturday (SS15 /18):
- E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris 2h 0m 4.2s
- T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +3.0s
- T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +6.3s
- O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +12.8s
- K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +22.9s
- M Sesks / R Francis LVA Ford Puma +1m 31.4s
Disclaimer: This report is based on information available at the time of writing. Rally results are provisional and subject to change. For the latest updates and official standings, please refer to the official WRC website.
Source: WRC
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini
