WRC
Evans hits the front as Sesks rebounds in Sweden
Elfyn Evans turned Rally Sweden on its head on Saturday morning, storming from a 2.8sec deficit to a 16.1sec overall lead as the snow-packed classic delivered another twist.
The rally resumed with a fierce intra-team fight at Toyota Gazoo Racing, but it was Evans who wasted no time in seizing control on the first pass through Vännäs.
The Welshman was 7.2sec faster than overnight leader Takamoto Katsuta on the day’s opening test. A 2.8sec deficit became a 4.4sec advantage in just over 15 kilometres and, while Evans described his loop as “mixed” and “not perfect”, he continued to edge clear across the following two stages.
Katsuta, by contrast, was left searching for answers.
“I don’t know. I feel like I have no traction and no grip. I don’t know why. It is so strange,” he said after surrendering the lead.
The Japanese driver’s struggles persisted through Sarsjöliden and Kolksele, the gap stretching to 16.1sec by midday service as Evans tightened his grip on the rally.
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There was a breakthrough behind them for M-Sport Ford. Mārtiņš Sesks, rebounding from a fraught Friday, impressed on SS10 (Sarsjöliden 1). Carrying two spare wheels as insurance, the Latvian delivered a committed run to beat Evans by 0.9sec and secure his eighth WRC stage victory.
“I think we are slowly getting back up to speed,” Sesks smiled. “It is OK to drive and enjoy today.”
Oliver Solberg continued his recovery from Friday’s time loss with a measured but determined charge. The Swede capped the loop with fastest time on SS11 (Kolksele 1) and climbed to fourth overall, trimming the deficit to third-placed team-mate Sami Pajari to 24.0sec.
“He is the target now definitely,” Solberg said of the Finn. “It is a long shot but I will do my very best.”
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Pajari, meanwhile, kept a cool head. Third overall and 29.0sec from the lead, the Toyota youngster admitted there were tenths left on the table but maintained a composed approach as the podium fight intensified.
It remained a frustrating morning for Hyundai Motorsport. None of the i20 N Rally1 crews featured in the battle for stage wins, with Esapekka Lappi fifth - 1min 03.0sec back from the lead - and Adrien Fourmaux 9.3sec behind.
“We made a big change overnight but my confidence is lower than yesterday,” Lappi admitted.
Thierry Neuville, seventh and more than two minutes adrift, continued to treat the loop as an opportunity to experiment with set-up direction, while Puma team-mates Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean followed in eighth and ninth.
In WRC2, Roope Korhonen maintained control of the category and rounded out the overall top 10.
