Rally Japan – SS3: Second stage won by Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, who extend their lead in the overall standings

At home, the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 wasted no time in taking control of the Rally of Japan. Indeed, the first three stages of the Japanese event have already delivered their verdict, with Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin taking a commanding lead in the overall standings, 17,7 seconds ahead of Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson, who set the fastest time in SS1, and 18,2 seconds ahead of Sébastien Ogier – Vincent Landais.

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Two special stages already won by Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin in Japan 💪🏻 Precarious grip, mud, animals crossing the road: let's get started with the night's recap and interviews with the provisional Top 3 ☕️🎤

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During the Japanese night, rain fell, partially wetting the special stages run during this first loop and making them particularly treacherous in places. Tire choices, leaning towards softer tires better suited to these conditions, were therefore fairly consistent at the start of Rally Japan, the final asphalt round of the calendar. WRC 2026, as a reminder. These conditions also had a significant impact on this first loop, particularly in Isegami's Tunnel (SS2), the longest stage of the rally at 24,29 kilometers. Indeed, the road deteriorated with each run, complicating matters for competitors who weren't starting in the very front positions.

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The gaps are therefore already significant after SS3 between Elfyn Evans, who set two fastest times in the three stages run, in the lead, the Toyotas of his closest pursuers and the Hyundailed by Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe. The winners of the 2026 Rally Portugal are 10,4 seconds off the provisional podium at the end of this first loop, while occupying 4th position, having slotted in between the GR Yaris Rally1s of Sébastien Ogier, 3rd, and Sami Pajari, 5th. On home soil, Takamoto Katsuta had a difficult start to the rally, making a mistake in SS1 with a left-rear puncture, completely losing control in the tunnel stage, and going wide again in SS3. The damage is extensive for the Japanese driver, already 43,8 seconds behind Elfyn Evans. On the French side, Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais were among the "victims" of the road deterioration in SS2 but still limited the damage, finishing this first loop in 3rd place less than 20 seconds behind the provisional leaders. Adrien fourmaux Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20N Rally1) finished the first loop in 7th position.

Rally Japan: In WRC2, Nikolay Gryazin leads ahead of Cachón

Despite a disastrous first stage due to a poor tire choice, Nikolay Gryazin, co-driven by Konstantin Aleksandrov, leads the WRC2 class in Japan after the first loop. Driving the official Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, the pair hold only a 1,7-second advantage over Alejandro Cachón and Borja Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), while Diego Domínguez and Rogelio Peñate (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) complete the provisional WRC2 podium. In the RC2 class, the performance of Romet Jürgenson and Siim Oja (Ford Fiesta Rally2) also deserves close attention. Although the Estonian duo isn't competing in the WRC2 round this weekend, they currently sit third in the category with some strong times and are 38,2 seconds behind the leaders, Gryazin and Aleksandrov. Three more stages will be run this afternoon in Japan, the same ones as in the morning, except that the high temperatures will almost certainly have melted the damp patches.

WRC – Rally Japan
The overall standings for SS3 (Rally1)

The provisional overall standings after SS3 (Rally1)

The provisional overall standings after SS3 (WRC2)