P1racenews AI automatic summary:
WRC Japan: Sordo crashes out as Evans stuns to grab lead
In extremely slippery conditions on wet asphalt filled with leaves and pine needles, the Hyundai driver locked up while braking and veered off the road during the Isegami’s Tunnel stage. The car slid down an embankment and swiped some trees. Both the driver and co-driver were reported to be unharmed, but the precarious position of the car led organizers to red flag the stage, resulting in only six cars completing the test. Last year, Sordo had to retire from the rally on the same stage when his car caught fire. Home hero Takamoto Katsuta also had a mishap at the same corner, damaging his car’s radiator and requiring repairs, while Adrien Fourmaux of M-Sport also went off the road and did not finish the stage. Prior to the stoppage, Elfyn Evans of Toyota produced a remarkable drive in extremely challenging conditions, moving from ninth to the overall lead. He was followed closely by Kalle Rovanpera, who faced the worst road conditions. Evans ultimately won the stage, leading the rally by 3.8s. Thierry Neuville of Hyundai was the third fastest on the stage and climbed to third overall.
