Elfyn Evans emerged from a captivating Friday at Rally Sweden with a slender lead, after a day of intense competition saw just 9.1 seconds separating the top five drivers. The FIA World Rally Championship’s only pure snow rally lived up to its reputation, delivering a day of fluctuating fortunes and multiple lead changes across the seven challenging snow and ice-covered stages.
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver Evans initially set the pace, holding the lead at the midday service. However, as conditions evolved throughout the afternoon, the leaderboard underwent constant reshuffling. Takamoto Katsuta briefly surged ahead on SS5 before Evans swiftly responded, reclaiming the top spot. As darkness descended on the Bäck stage, Ott Tänak seized the lead, only to see his advantage slip away on the final Umeå Sprint test due to worn tires. Evans capitalized on this, setting the fastest time and regaining the lead.
Katsuta’s consistent speed kept him within striking distance, trailing his Toyota teammate by a mere 0.6 seconds. Tänak, despite his earlier lead, dropped to third, 2.5 seconds behind Evans.
Adrien Fourmaux delivered a stellar performance in the morning, winning two stages and rising as high as second position. While his momentum slightly waned in the afternoon, the Frenchman still finished the day in a commendable fourth place, just 5.4 seconds adrift of Hyundai i20 N Rally1 colleague Tänak. A stall on SS5, at the same treacherous corner that caught out Kalle Rovanperä and Josh McErlean, proved to be his most significant setback.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville struggled with understeer early in the day, making for a frustrating start. He gradually found his rhythm later, and a stage win helped him recover some lost ground. He concluded the leg 9.1 seconds behind Evans, securing fifth place overall.
Two-time world champion Rovanperä had an uncharacteristically quiet day. Hampered by an overshoot on SS5, the Finn failed to secure a top-three stage time and finished the day trailing Neuville by 16.4 seconds.
Mārtiņš Sesks made a notable impression on his return to M-Sport Ford’s Puma Rally1, achieving a pair of top-three stage times en route to seventh place. Team-mate McErlean, in only his second Rally1 start, continued to gain confidence and finished the day in eighth.
Toyota’s Sami Pajari demonstrated flashes of strong pace but was unfortunately delayed by a brush with a snowbank, which dislodged a tire from the rim and relegated him to ninth. Grégoire Munster completed the top 10 in his Puma.
Saturday’s penultimate leg promises further drama, featuring seven high-speed stages covering a distance of 101.96km. With the top drivers so closely packed, the battle for victory is far from over.
Summary:
- Elfyn Evans leads Rally Sweden by 0.6 seconds.
- Takamoto Katsuta and Ott Tänak are close behind in second and third.
- Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville round out the top five.
- Kalle Rovanperä had a subdued day and sits in sixth.
- Mārtiņš Sesks and Josh McErlean impressed in their respective Pumas.
Disclaimer: This report is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional motorsport advice. Rallying is a dangerous sport and spectators should always follow official safety instructions.
Source: WRC
This article was crafted with assistance from Gemini
