Forum8 Rally Japan Mikkelsen Takes WRC2 Lead

November 17, 2023Joe Moore
RallyWRC2

The second day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Andreas Mikkelsen leads the class after the days seven stages. 

SS2, Isegami’s Tunnel 1

Andreas Mikkelsen started off the second day of Forum8 Rally Japan with a stage win. Mikkelsen would set a time 7.8 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to take the class lead and his first stage win of the event. Heiki Kovalanen finished third fastest on the stage, 43.2 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanowicz was the last driver to finish the stage, 4.2 seconds slower than Kovalanen. The stage was cancelled after Kajetanowicz ran. 

SS3, Inabu Dam 1

Andreas Mikkelsen also won the third stage of the weekend. Posting a time 30.9 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win the stage. Osamu Fukunaga finished third fastest on the stage, 17 seconds slower than Gryazin. Heiki Kovalanen set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 2.4 seconds slower than Fukunaga. Eamonn Boland rounded out the top five on the stage, 18.7 seconds slower than Kovalanen. 

SS4, Shitara Town 1

Cancelled due to safety concerns.

SS5, Isegami’s Tunnel 2

Nikolay Gryazin took the stage win on the fifth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. Setting a time 15.8 seconds faster than Andreas Mikkelsen to take his first stage win of the day. Heiki Kovalanen finished third fastest on the stage, 27.4 seconds slower than Mikkelsen. Kajetan Kajetanowicz posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 30.3 seconds slower than Kovalanen. Osamu Fukunaga rounded out the top five on the stage, 40.1 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz. 

SS6, Inabu Dam 2

Andreas Mikkelsen was back in form on SS6, taking yet another stage win. Mikkelsen would set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win his third stage of the day. Heiki Kovalanen finished third fastest on the stage, 14.2 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetnowicz posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 16.5 seconds slower than Kovalanen. Osamu Fukunaga rounded out the top five on the stage, 38.2 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz. 

SS7, Shitara Town 2

Andreas Mikkelsen also won the seventh stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. Posting a time 6.5 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin. Heiki Kovalanen finished third fastest on the stage, 21.7 seconds slower than Gryazin. Kajetan Kajetanowicz set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 28.4 seconds slower than Kovalanen. Osamu Fukunaga rounded out the top five on the stage, 28.3 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz. 

SS8, Toyota Stadium SSS 2

Andreas Mikkelsen took home the stage win on the final stage of the second day. Setting a time 0.1 seconds faster than Nikolay Gryazin to win his third consecutive stage. Kajetan Kajetanowicz and Heiki Kovalanen tied for third fastest on the stage, both drivers finished 1.3 seconds slower than Gryazin. Osamu Fukunaga posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 7.9 seconds slower than Kajetanowicz and Kovalanen. Eamonn Boland rounded out the top five times on the stage, 1.2 seconds slower than Fukunaga. 

Forum8 Rally Japan Day One WRC2 Recap