Nikolay Gryazin will take a slender 5.7sec WRC2 lead into the final day of FORUM8 Rally Japan after Alejandro Cachón fought back during Saturday’s afternoon loop.

Elfyn Evans will carry a 17.8sec lead into the final day of FORUM8 Rally Japan after a dramatic Saturday which saw Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Oliver Solberg crash out of victory contention.

Oliver Solberg cut Elfyn Evans’ FORUM8 Rally Japan lead to 10.6sec after turning up the pressure on Saturday morning’s dry asphalt stages.

Alejandro Cachón holds a slender 8.3sec lead over Nikolay Gryazin after a finely poised opening day in WRC2 at FORUM8 Rally Japan.

Elfyn Evans ended a tricky opening day of FORUM8 Rally Japan with a 15.7sec lead as Toyota Gazoo Racing filled the top four places on Friday evening.