Rally Japan – SS6: Fastest time for Sami Pajari, Elfyn Evans finishes the day in the lead

On the lands of Toyota, only red mounts existed in this first stage of the Rally The Japanese Rally concluded after the sixth special stage. While Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen took the opportunity to set their first fastest time of the weekend, it was their teammates who ultimately made the most of the day. Elfyn Evans, co-driven by Scott Martin, completed a superb first loop, finishing the stage at the top of the provisional overall standings with three fastest times in the six stages completed. The Welsh driver ended his day with a 15,7-second lead over Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson, who set the two fastest times in the new Asuke stage, which was new to everyone. But this position was razor-thin: just 1,4 seconds separated the Swedish prodigy from the nine-time French World Champion. Sébastien Ogier and his co-driver Vincent Landais, the two crews having been battling it out since the start of the rally.

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Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen haven't given up yet, and have managed to reclaim 4th position in the general classification, now with a 16,7-second lead over Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, the crew Hyundai The highest-placed driver is currently fifth in the standings. The day's biggest losers, Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston, lost considerable ground and are now in sixth place, more than a minute behind the leader. They are, however, ahead of the two other Hyundai drivers.Adrien fourmaux – Alexandre Coria and Hayden Paddon – John Kennard, then the Ford Puma Rally1 of M-SportAmong them, Josh McErlean experienced some setbacks in SS5, having to stop during the special stage due to a puncture.

Rally Japan: It's heating up in WRC2, where Gryazin and Cachón are battling it out

Since the start of the rally, Nikolay Gryazin – Konstantin Aleksandrov (Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale) and Alejandro Cachón – Borja Rozada (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) have been trading blows. At the end of the first leg, and a superb sixth special stage for the Spanish crew, the two men have regained the lead and even extended their advantage over the crew entered under the French PH Sport team. Cachón now holds an 8,3-second lead over Gryazin. A fierce battle is raging behind them for third place between Japan's Yuki Yamamoto (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who is currently on the podium, and Paraguay's Diego Dominguez (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2), who is 9,8 seconds behind Yamamoto.

WRC – Rally Japan
The overall standings for SS6 (Rally1)

The provisional overall standings after SS6 (Rally1)

The provisional overall standings after SS6 (WRC2)