WRC Rally Japan: Sebastien Ogier responds to Elfyn…

Sebastien Ogier fended off a charge from World Rally Championship title rival Elfyn Evans to hang onto the Rally Japan lead heading into the final day of competition

Ogier came under attack from championship leader Evans across Saturday’s seven asphalt stages, but was able to issue a fightback in the afternoon to end the day with a 6.5s margin ahead of Sunday’s remaining six stages.

Evans began the day 10.2s behind Ogier in third position, but quickly moved ahead of Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta into second after the opening stage. Evans then posted times faster than Ogier in each of the next three tests to cut his team-mate's rally lead down to 1.4s after stage 11 [Mt. Kasagi 2].

Ogier felt he lost some time in stage 11, following an incident involving Katsuta that spelled the end of the Japanese driver’s bid for a breakthrough maiden WRC win on home soil. Katsuta misjudged an entry into a chicane and ploughed through several water filled plastic barriers, which resulted in a loss of power steering that cost more than four minutes. Ogier felt he was delayed by the barriers scattered across the road and dropped 0.6s to Evans.

However, in stage 12, Ogier managed to stem the flow of time loss, edging Evans to the stage win by 0.3s. The eight-time world champion then delivered a stunning drive in stage 13 to take three seconds out of Evans, before ending the day by winning the Toyota City super special.

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1 (Photo by: Hyundai Motorsport)

Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux benefited from Katsuta’s mistake to move into third, although the Frenchman had already hauled himself into the victory fight following a stunning morning loop. Fourmaux managed to overcome the challenges posed by the unpredictable handling of his Hyundai to win stages eight and nine.

Fourmaux’s risk taking and race continued across the afternoon to end Saturday in third, 23.6s behind Ogier and only 17.1s adrift of Evans.

“For sure, it was one of my strongest days of the year as they have been really demanding stages. I think I have made a step forward with my confidence on tarmac,” said Fourmaux, who piloted Hyundai’s ‘Evolution’ car.

Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston were able to fix the broken power steering on a road section. The process required siphoning engine oil to replace the fluid lost in the crash. The pair incurred a 5m40s penalty for being late to stage 12 and ended the day in 20th position.

“On the braking I was expecting to stop quite well, and I don’t know for some reason it didn’t stop so well and I was over-speeding into the corner and I hit the water barrier,” said Katsuta

“Unfortunately, when I hit the barrier, it was a very bad angle into the radiator and the power steering cooling system. I’m very, very sorry to the team of course and especially the fans.”

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (Photo by: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing)

Katsuta’s Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari survived a half spin across the morning that caused minor damage to the rear of his GR Yaris. The Finn reported that at times it was difficult to hear his co-driver due to more noise coming into the car following the damage. Pajari was, however, able to end the day in fourth, 45.4s away from the lead.

Ott Tanak endured another day struggling to extract pace from the older generation i20 N. The 2019 world champion remained well adrift of the lead group in fifth [+2m34.5s].

“We are nowhere on this rally and performance-wise I guess it reflects the level we are at the moment,” said Tanak. “I think we have lost track [from last year] and questions need to be asked.”

M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster will head into the Sunday’s final stages in sixth ahead of Kalle Rovanpera, who managed to climb from 17th to seventh, as his recovery from damaging his left rear suspension continued.

The top 10 was completed by WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg, Alejandro Cachon and Nikolay Gryazin.