The final day of the World Rally Championship in Japan consists of six special stages.
Kalle Rovanperä is looking for a full bonus point pot from Sunday. PDO
Japan World Cup Rally
Situation 15/20 after the special exam
1. Sébastien Ogier, Toyota 2.45.54.0
2. Elfyn Evans, Toyota +5.7 seconds
3. Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai +38.6
4. Sami Pajari, Toyota +58.2
5. Ott Tänak, Hyundai +2.28,0
6. Grégoire Munster, Ford +5.18,1
7. Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota +6.21,8
EK15
The downpour promised for Sunday caused a lot of worry and sadness for the rally teams.
Perhaps the most comical setback was suffered by the reigning world champion Thierry Neuvillewhose Hyundai windshield wipers refused to work.
The Belgian had no choice but to miss the race on the final day.
Heavy rain had been promised in the area of the first special test of the day, but when the video connection to Nukata opened, the heavy rain had already passed.
Of course, the surface of the asphalt was still wet.
Kalle Rovanperä continued his own pursuit with his tongue in his mouth. He almost halved Grégoire Munster head start.
– The conditions are difficult. Really difficult weather, and the same has been promised all day. We will try to get good scores, Rovanperä said.
The Finn lost by 0.4 seconds to the fastest To Ott Tänak.
Sami Pajari was already 19.3 seconds behind the Estonian.
– At some point I was in a state of limbo, and I didn’t want to drive out. It wasn’t good. I didn’t really feel like pulling the pass over, Pajari said.
The circumstances were right by Adrien Fourmaux as fate. The Frenchman drove out violently.
– The windshield fogged up, and I couldn’t see out. We drove out and hit something, Fourmaux defended.
He is officially still participating in the rally, but according to the rules the car is not allowed to continue, so both Pajari and Rovanperä would be moving up one place.