At the Rally Sweden, the competition is fierce and positions change as quickly as the weather conditions. While Takamoto Katsuta hoped to continue his momentum, Elfyn Evans took the lead, leaving the Japanese driver in the shadows. Between sliding and precision, the Swedish rally offers us a breathtaking spectacle.
A Tense Morning
We left Takamoto Katsuta with the joy of having taken the lead in the Rally Sweden, but the Japanese driver did not find the right recipe behind the wheel of his Toyota on Saturday morning. For this first special stage of the morning, Martins Sesks opened the road after his retirement the day before. On this fifteen-kilometer stretch, a distance found in all the special stages of the day’s loop, the conditions were demanding but without any bad surprises, allowing for an aggressive approach.
Restarting with firm intentions and freed from his opener position, Oliver Solberg announced his intentions. From this SS9, the Norwegian overtook Adrien Fourmaux and Esapekka Lappi to take fourth place in the overall standings. A little later, Elfyn Evans signed the fastest time, pushing Takamoto Katsuta back by 7.2 seconds and reclaiming the lead of the rally.
Evans Sets the Record Straight
Frustrating morning for Takamoto Katsuta… The course of SS10 favored those who started early, as the surface deteriorated with each pass. This configuration benefited Martins Sesks, who ultimately achieved the fastest time with only 0.9 seconds ahead of Elfyn Evans.
However, the Welshman made the best move by pushing Takamoto Katsuta even further back in the standings, gaining nearly six additional seconds. The Japanese driver did not hide his frustration: “It feels like there is no traction, no grip. It’s completely different from yesterday, it’s so strange!”
The Final Special
The final special took place on a more snow-covered terrain than the first two specials. And Oliver Solberg enjoyed himself by being the fastest. Elfyn Evans did not beat the Swede but came very close to solidifying his lead in the rally and inflicting six more seconds on his closest pursuer.
Meanwhile, difficulties continued for the Hyundai drivers, who were never able to threaten the fastest, and Adrien Fourmaux paid the price while Esapekka Lappi fared the best.
Midday: A Mixed Assessment
At the general standings at midday, Elfyn Evans now has a 16-second lead over Takamoto Katsuta, who may need to start looking behind him. In third place, Sami Pajari appeared a bit off the pace and will need to be wary of Oliver Solberg’s comeback, even though he reacted well at the end of the morning.
The second pass in the day’s loop will begin at 3:10 PM, and the Umeå Sprint special will conclude it. The battle is fierce, and every second counts in this rally where snow can be both an ally and a formidable enemy.
Rally Sweden – Standings After SS11
As the drivers prepare to hit the road again, the suspense is at its peak. Who between Katsuta and Solberg will manage to turn the situation around? The coming hours will be decisive and promise a thrilling spectacle for all motorsport enthusiasts. Stay tuned to follow this exciting adventure and discover who will prevail at the end of this Swedish rally.
