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Thrilling Showdown: Ogier and Evans Battle for Rally Japan Glory in Nail-Biting Finale!

Redação by Redação
November 8, 2025
in Motorsports, WRC
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Thrilling Showdown: Ogier and Evans Battle for Rally Japan Glory in Nail-Biting Finale!

Sebastien Ogier (FRA) Vincent Landais (FRA) Of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen on roadsection during the World Rally Championship Japan in Toyota City, Japan on 7,November, 2025 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202511070265 // Usage for editorial use only //

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Unleashing the Thrill: Ogier and Evans in a Jaw-Dropping Duel for Rally Japan Glory!

In an electrifying showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats, Saturday marked the longest and most intense day of Rally Japan as Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans battled relentlessly for supremacy on the treacherous tarmac. Starting the day with a 10.2-second deficit, Evans charged into action, slashing Ogier’s lead to a mere 8.9 seconds within moments of the morning stages. But that was just the beginning.

The Welshman, determined to make history, clinched his career 200th stage victory in stage ten, tightening the noose around Ogier’s lead to just two seconds. With adrenaline coursing through his veins, Evans snatched victory in the subsequent stage, leaving Ogier sweating bullets as the gap shrank to an alarming 1.4 seconds with three stages still to come.

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But Ogier, the eight-time WRC champion, wasn’t about to let his hard-earned lead slip away without a fight. In a stunning display of skill, he edged Evans by a razor-thin 0.3 seconds in stage 12, momentarily halting the Welshman’s momentum. By the end of the penultimate stage, Ogier had managed to regain a cushion of 4.9 seconds, and with a final triumphant flourish, he secured his third consecutive stage win to end the day with a 6.5-second advantage over Evans.

Reflecting on the nail-biting day, Ogier stated, “I feel that I’ve done a good job this afternoon, but I could have done better this morning – I think that’s the summary of the day. In the end, we cannot be unsatisfied with what we’ve done. Elfyn was driving very well with strong pace. We lost a bit too much ground, especially in the last stage of the loop, but after that we had a good response. The gaps were still incredibly small, but going into the last day in the lead can only be positive. The conditions will probably be extra challenging for everybody, and we will have to be on it straight away.”

Evans echoed his teammate’s sentiments, saying, “Overall it’s been a good day. This morning things were going well and working much better than yesterday. I was maybe driving more smoothly also, and we were able to close the gap to Seb. We still had good runs through the first two stages this afternoon, but then probably gave away more than I would have liked in the last two.”

As Sunday looms, the tension is palpable. The day began with Adrien Fourmaux seizing the first two stage wins, igniting a flicker of hope for Hyundai and their i20 N. However, disaster struck for Takamoto Katsuta, the beloved home hero, who suffered a devastating setback when he ran wide, colliding with a water-filled barrier and damaging his steering system. Despite the heart-wrenching moment that saw him plunge to 22nd place, Katsuta will return under restart rules.

Fourmaux, basking in the glow of his successful day, remarked, “I was really satisfied with my pace today; it was one of my best days of the season so far. I felt very comfortable pushing on every stage, and with two stage wins and getting close on the others, it’s been really positive. Tomorrow will be a difficult day, so I will keep my head down and focus on pushing in the wet.”

In a fiercely competitive field, Sami Pajari rounded out the day in fourth, while Ott Tänak and Grégoire Munster claimed fifth and sixth, respectively. Kalle Rovanperä, undeterred by Friday’s setbacks, made a remarkable climb from 17th to seventh place, eyeing bonus points that could bolster his championship aspirations on the final day.

Emerging from the chaos, Oliver Solberg secured eighth overall, while Alejandro Cachón continued to dominate WRC2 in ninth, fending off challenges from Nikolay Gryazin, who struggled with grip issues. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville endured a frustrating morning, spotting a broken driveshaft before the opening stage, leading to an early retirement from the rally.

As the dust settles on this exhilarating day, all eyes turn to Sunday, where the stakes couldn’t be higher, and the battle for Rally Japan supremacy promises to be nothing short of legendary!

Tags: 2025-american-rally-associationElfyn Evansforum8-rally-japanhyundai-bossSébastien Ogiertakamoto-katsutas
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