The penultimate day of Rally Sweden 2025 saw Adrien Fourmaux crash out while Elfyn Evans maintained the lead albeit with a reduced advantage.
The Saturday stages, characterized by icy roads and challenging winter conditions, saw intense battles unfold across the Swedish landscape which reshuffled the WRC leaderboard and set the stage for a captivating final day.
Toyota GAZOO’s Elfyn Evans began Rally Sweden 2025 SS9 with a slender 0.6-second lead over his teammate Takamoto Katsuta. The Welshman demonstrated remarkable consistency and speed throughout the morning’s stages, held near Umeå.
Evans and Katsuta were closely matched, trading stage times and pushing each other to the limit on the ice-laden tracks. However, a decisive push in the afternoon saw Evans extend his lead, capitalizing on a minor error from Katsuta, who overshot a junction on SS12.
Just when it appeared Evans had seized control the rally gods intervened. A stall on the day’s closing stage narrowed his lead to a mere 3.0 seconds injecting a renewed sense of urgency into Sunday’s final stages.
READ ASO: Rally Sweden 2025: Elfyn Evans leads Kalle Rovanpera in Umeå Sprint
Takamoto Katsuta, the Japanese driver also piloting a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, continued his impressive performance, maintaining relentless pressure on Evans.
Despite a minor mistake that cost him valuable time, Katsuta demonstrated resilience, fighting back on SS14 and setting up a tantalizing showdown with Evans on the final day as he chases his maiden WRC victory.
Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville mounted a spirited comeback on Saturday, clawing his way into contention for Rally Sweden 2025 honours. The Hyundai driver, initially struggling with understeer on Friday, found his rhythm and unleashed a series of impressive stage times.
Neuville’s determined drive saw him overtake his teammate Ott Tänak, who encountered a coolant leak, and position himself just 6.3 seconds behind Evans, setting the stage for a fierce three-way battle for victory on Sunday.
The Hyundai team experienced mixed fortunes on Saturday after Adrien Fourmaux crashed during the afternoon loop of stages.
Following a time loss earlier in the day due to a minor issue with his helmet strap, he was determined to make a comeback. He began the afternoon loop with renewed vigor, even setting the fastest time on one of the early afternoon stages.
However, disaster struck during SS13 Sarjöliden when he miscalculated a turn and found himself stuck in a snowbank, highlighting the unforgiving nature of Rally Sweden 2025. Despite efforts to free his car, Fourmaux was forced to retire from the stage and ultimately from the day’s competition.
Fourmaux crash reshuffled the leaderboard as other competitors seized the opportunity to advance their positions. With the Frenchman out of contention, Evans maintained his lead over Katsuta, who was now looking to secure second place amidst fierce competition from other drivers.
Mārtiņš Sesks continued to impress on his return to M-Sport Ford’s Puma Rally1, posting competitive stage times and gaining valuable experience on the challenging snow and ice.
Meanwhile, two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä endured a subdued Saturday by his standards. The Finn struggled to find his rhythm, hampered by an overshoot on SS5.
Rovanperä, known for his aggressive driving style, uncharacteristically trailed Neuville by a significant margin underscoring the intense competition at Rally Sweden 2025 amid challenging conditions.
In the WRC2 category, Oliver Solberg continued his dominant performance extending his Rally Sweden 2025 lead with a string of stage wins. His transition to a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 has been seamless, showcasing his exceptional talent and adaptability on snow and ice.
Behind Solberg, a fierce battle raged for the remaining podium positions. Roope Korhonen held firm in second, while Mikko Heikkilä capitalized on Georg Linnamäe’s misfortune to move into third, setting up a thrilling showdown for the final day.
