The second day of Forum8 Rally Japan has come to an end. Ott Tänak took the event lead on the day’s eight stages.
SS2, Isegami’s Tunnel 1
Thierry Neuville kicked off the day with a stage win. As the championship hopeful set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Ott Tänak to take the stage win. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 5 seconds slower than Neuville and 3.8 seconds slower than Tänak. WRC2 driver Nikolay Gryazin was fourth fastest on the stage, 39.6 seconds slower than Evans. WRC2 driver Sami Pajari rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.8 seconds slower than Gryazin.
SS3, Inabu/Shitara 1
Sebastien Ogier became the third different stage winner of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024 on stage three. With a time 1.8 seconds faster than Elfyn Evans. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.5 seconds slower than Ogier and 1.7 seconds slower than Evans. Thierry Neuville set the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Tänak. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.5 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS4, Shinshrio 1
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on SS4. As the reigning event winner set a time three seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Ott Tänak finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 3.2 seconds slower than Evans and 0.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta was fourth fastest on the stage, 4.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Andreas Mikkelsen rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing five seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS5, Isegami’s Tunnel 2
Ott Tänak set the fastest time on the fifth stage of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. With a time 6.2 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 14.4 seconds slower than Tänak and 8.2 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta set the fourth fastest time on the stage, four seconds slower than Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 3.2 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS6, Inabu/Shitara 2
Ott Tänak became the first two-time stage winner of the weekend on SS6. As the Estonian set a time 3.9 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to top the stage. Elfyn Evans finished with the third fastest time on the stage, 6.7 seconds slower than Tänak and 2.8 seconds slower than Ogier. Takamoto Katsuta was fourth fastest on the stage, 3.7 seconds slower than Evans. Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 4.9 seconds slower than Katsuta.
SS7, Shinshiro 2
Elfyn Evans took home the stage win on the seventh stage of Forum8 Rally Japan. With a time 0.4 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier was third fastest on the stage, four seconds slower than Evans and 3.6 seconds slower than Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 1.6 seconds slower than Ogier. Grégoire Munster rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 10.1 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS8, Okazaki SSS 1
Takamoto Katsuta took his first stage win of the weekend on SS8. As the Japanese driver set a time 0.6 seconds faster than Ott Tänak and Sebastien Ogier who tied for second on the stage. Adrien Fourmaux finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, 0.1 seconds slower than Tänak and Ogier. Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Fourmaux.
SS9, Okazaki SSS2
Adrien Fourmaux, Takamoto Katsuta and Elfyn Evans tied for the stage win on the final stage of the second day of Forum8 Rally Japan 2024. As all drivers finished 0.1 seconds faster than Ott Tänak. Sebastien Ogier rounded out the top five times on the stage, finishing 0.2 seconds slower than Tänak.