The morning loop at Arctic Rally Finland saw Esapekka Lappi emerge as the dominant force, with a commanding 1m24.3s lead over Adrien Fourmaux. Elfyn Evans trailed in third place, 1m40.5s behind Lappi after Toyota driver Katsuta’s challenging day came to an end. Oliver Solberg continued to stun with his performance, holding an impressive fourth place overall in the WRC2 class. Thierry Neuville made a remarkable climb from 11th to fifth place, showing great determination and skill on the challenging stages.
The heavy snow showers that characterized Friday’s action gave way to much colder temperatures on Saturday. The more favorable conditions for the front runners became evident as Ott Tanak set the pace on the day’s first test. Despite his crash on Friday, Tanak started first on the road and managed to outpace Evans by 0.3s, utilizing the compacted ice layer to his advantage. World champion Kalle Rovanpera also made a strong comeback, finishing third fastest on the stage, just 1.2s behind Tanak.
Katsuta responded to the rally leader Lappi’s challenge by posting a time 2.3s faster on stage nine, narrowing the gap to a mere 0.9s. However, stage 10 brought a significant twist in the battle for victory as Katsuta encountered trouble while chasing down Lappi. Losing control of his car, Katsuta hit a snowbank and damaged the front of his vehicle, dashing his hopes of victory. Lappi emerged from the stage with a comfortable lead over Fourmaux, solidifying his position at the top.
Neuville continued to struggle with his Hyundai i20 N, despite climbing back into the top 10 on the leaderboard. While he acknowledged the improved road conditions, Neuville expressed frustration over the lack of traction and difficulty in braking late and exiting corners smoothly. With the morning stages set to be repeated in the afternoon, the drivers faced the prospect of navigating the challenging terrain once again.
As the drivers tackled the final stage of the loop, Fourmaux further solidified his second position by winning the stage and extending his lead over third-placed Evans. Lappi, comfortable with his lead, opted for a safe approach to preserve his advantage. Reflecting on his performance, Lappi expressed uncertainty about what more he could do to improve his time, emphasizing his focus on maintaining his position at the top of the leaderboard.
The Arctic Rally Finland showcased a mix of triumphs and challenges for the drivers, highlighting the unpredictable nature of rally racing. As the afternoon stages loomed ahead, the competitors braced themselves for further tests of skill and resilience on the demanding icy roads.