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Elfyn Evans led FORUM8 Rally Japan by 1min overnight after extreme conditions in Friday’s opening leg caught out several of his FIA World Rally Championship peers. Torrential rainfall, thick fog and roads covered with damp leaves were just some of the challenges faced by crews on the first full day of action at the 2023 season finale. Survival was the aim of the game and, while several of his rivals faltered, Evans barely put a wheel wrong. A minor overshoot in the second stage of the day did not prevent the Welshman from reaching the lunchtime service halt with 26 seconds in hand over Thierry Neuville, his main competition for the runner-up spot in this year’s drivers’ championship. Neuville, winner of the 2022 event, responded in the afternoon by slicing Evans’ advantage by more than half with a blistering run through Isegami’s Tunnel 2. But his comeback was cut short when he crashed his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 into a tree on the first corner of the following test. The Belgian wasn’t the only driver to be caught out by the conditions and joined team-mate Dani Sordo as well as M-Sport Ford Puma hotshot Adrien Fourmaux on the retirements list after both drivers left the road at the same location in SS2. Evans was left clear at the top of the standings and, with two of his Hyundai rivals sidelined, headed a GR Yaris podium lockout for Toyota Gazoo Racing. Leading positions after Friday: 1. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris 1h 25m 2. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 1m 3. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris 2m 4. A Mikkelsen / T Eriksen NOR Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 3m 5. G Munster / L Louka LUX Ford Fiesta Rally2 3m 6. N Gryazin / K Aleksandrov Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 3m #wrc #rallyjapan ______ Experience the world of Red Bull Rally like you have never seen it before. With the best rallying videos on the web and original series, prepare for your “stoke factor” to be at an all time high. Subscribe to Red Bull Rally on Youtube: Get the FREE Red Bull TV apps for all your devices: Watch Red Bull TV: Check out Red Bull Motorsports on Facebook: Red Bull Motorsports on Instagram:
