P1racenews AI automatic summary:
WRC Sweden: Katsuta leads as Rovanpera, Tanak crash out
On the fourth stage of the rally, Katsuta surged ahead and took an 11.4-second lead over Esapekka Lappi, following retirements of Rovanpera and Ott Tanak due to dramatic incidents. Rovanpera, the overnight leader and reigning world champion, fell victim to a snowbank, while Tanak damaged his radiator. These events led to Elfyn Evans moving up to third and M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux to fourth, with Thierry Neuville in fifth and Oliver Solberg leading the WRC2 class in sixth. Crews battled tough conditions with fog and drizzle on the opening stage, with road position playing a crucial role in performance.
Rovanpera took advantage of starting seventh to win the stage, while Lappi survived a snowbank encounter. Toyota’s Katsuta continued his strong performance, with Evans maintaining a solid pace despite challenges faced by road sweeper Neuville. Conditions worsened on stage three as rain turned into snow, causing visibility issues for the drivers. Despite a heart-stopping spin, Evans managed to outperform Neuville, while Lappi secured the stage win.
In the following stage, Katsuta’s rally lead solidified after a drama-filled fourth stage that saw Rovanpera and Tanak retire. Rovanpera and Tanak’s misfortunes shifted the leaderboard, with Evans moving up to third and Lappi claiming the stage win.
