Evans extends WRC lead with victory in Japan

Elfyn Evans extended his lead in the World Rally Championship by winning Rally Japan, his third victory in four years at the event. At the halfway point of the 14-round season, Evans’s advantage over Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta grew from 12 points to 20. The 37-year-old Welsh driver grabbed the lead on Friday with a commanding stage-two run through Isegami’s Tunnel and controlled the rally over the remaining 18 stages. He finished 12.8 seconds ahead of nine-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, with Sami Pajari 51.4 seconds adrift in third. Katsuta completed a Toyota 1-2-3-4 in their home race, aided by Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston. Evans benefited from leading early, as Friday's stage-two run helped him build a lead of 7.5 seconds before the first day concluded. Saturday, Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson won two stages, but Solberg crashed on stage 12, drawing a rebuke from Ogier; he rejoined to claim Sunday’s 10 bonus points and remains third, 49 behind Evans. Evans warned gravel rallies will test the team, noting road-sweeping remains a potential weakness when starting first. The next round is the Acropolis Rally in Greece, scheduled for 25-28 June, where the gravel challenge resumes.