The third day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Elfyn Evans retains the event lead after the day’s seven stages.
SS9, Nukata Forest 1
Sebastien Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta tied for the stage win on the opening stage of the third day of Forum8 Rally Japan. With both drivers posting a time 3.1 seconds faster than rally leader Elfyn Evans to win the stage. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 1.1 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Esapekka Lappi rounded out the top five times on the stage, 5 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS10, Lake Mikawako 1
Takamoto Katsuta was the sole fastest time on SS10. As Katsuta set a time 1.1 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to win the stage. Ott Tänak finished third fastest, 1 second slower than Neuville. Sebastien Ogier posted the fourth fastest time on the stage; 7.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Kalle Rovanperä rounded out the top five on the stage, 2.8 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS11, Okazaki City SSS1
Elfyn Evans took the win on the eleventh stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. Posting a time 0.2 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to win his first stage of the day. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Tänak. Sebastien Ogier set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Kalle Rovanperä rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.9 seconds slower than Ogier.
SS12, Okazaki City SSS2
Elfyn Evans also took the stage win on SS12. Setting a time 0.9 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to win his second consecutive stage. Sebastien Ogier finished third fastest on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Tänak. Kalle Rovanperä posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.4 seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.2 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS13, Nukata Forest 2
Takamoto Katsuta was back to his winning ways on the thirteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. With Katsuta posting a time 2.8 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to win the stage. Ott Tänak finished third fastest on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Ogier. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Esapekka Lappi rounded out the top five on the stage, 5 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS14, Lake Mikawako 2
Takamoto Katsuta also took the win on SS14. Setting a time 0.8 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to win his fourth stage of the day. Ott Tänak finished third fastest on the stage, 1.9 seconds slower than Neuville. Esapekka Lappi posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 7.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Kalle Rovanperä rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3 seconds slower than Lappi.
SS15, Shinshiro City
Takamoto Katsuta also won the fifteenth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. Katsuta would finish with a time 0.4 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä to win his fifth stage of the day. Rally leader Elfyn Evans finished third fastest on the stage, 1 second slower than Rovanperä. Esapekka Lappi set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Evans. Ott Tänak rounded out the top five on the stage, posting a time 0.4 seconds slower than Lappi.
SS16, Toyota Stadium SSS3
Esapekka Lappi won the final stage of the third day of Forum8 Rally Japan. Lappi would set a time 1.5 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to take his first stage win of the day. Thierry Neuville finished third fastest on the stage, 0.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta posted the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.5 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, 0.3 seconds slower than Katsuta.
Katsuta Shines Again
Takamoto Katsuta won five of the day’s seven stages. This moved Katsuta up from 9th to 6th overall, 14.9 seconds behind Tänak. Katsuta likely would’ve been in the rally lead if he hadn’t spun out on SS2. Katsuta has been arguably the best driver this weekend and feels like he has more to show.