Tänak and Rovanperä neck and neck in Finland

Since Friday, everything has been about the duel in Finland. If the battle is still as intense as Friday, it is the protagonists who have changed. Well, only one. If Ott Tänak is still at the top of the Rally from Finland (a position he has held since SS2), it is no longer Esapekka Lappi who is following the Estonian's coattails. Now it's Kalle Rovanperä who puts pressure on the driver Hyundai after taking 2nd place.

The world championship leader splashed the day with his speed and talent. Of the 8 special stages on the program, the Finn won 6! Fourth at the start of SS11 this morning, Rovanperä successively overtook Elfyn Evans then Esapekka Lappi to now find himself 8″8 behind Tänak. The Hyundai driver stood up to the driver Toyota all day, signing two scratches (including one tied with Rovanperä, on SS17) and minimizing losses. With 4 stages remaining on Sunday, the suspense is therefore total between the two drivers for victory.

Lappi and Evans say goodbye to victory

If the two leaders are in their own category, there was no big upset in the general classification on Friday afternoon. Esapekka Lappi, now isolated in 3rd place, has probably given up on victory. Like the last special where the Toyota driver conceded almost twenty seconds on Rovanperä.

Lappi is almost already assured of the podium since Elfyn Evans, 4th at the end of the day, lost big at the end of the afternoon. Victim of a rupture of his left rear suspension during SS17, the Welshman attempted an express repair on the link and was able to take the start of SS18. But the vice-world champion had to drive at a slow pace to reach the finish line. Now relegated to almost a minute and twenty behind Tänak, Evans is probably condemned to 4th place and will only have the Power Stage points to collect on Sunday.

Neuville anchored in 5th place, M-Sport lagging behind

After moving up the rankings after the accident Craig Breen this morning, Thierry Neuville consolidated its position throughout the afternoon. The Belgian is also isolated in 5th place and will aim for 5 points in the Power Stage. Takamoto Katsuta, the only real threat to the Hyundai driver's position, lost around thirty seconds in the last special after a spin. The Japanese then stalled and had difficulty getting going again.

Lesson 4 M-Sport are still at the back of the pack among the Rally1s, far from the pace of the best. Long the fastest among the British team's entrants, Pierre-Louis Loubet finally lost his 7th place to his teammate Gus Greensmith. After his power steering problems in the morning, Jari Huttunen was able to have a trouble-free afternoon and could claim a top 10 tomorrow. The Finnish rookie is 1'46 behind Emil Lindholm (WRC2), currently 10th overall and 2nd in WRC2 of the Rally Finland behind Teemu Suninen.

The general classification after SS18 (before WRC2): 

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