P1racenews AI automatic summary:
The battle for this year’s FIA World Rally Championship title is set to go to the wire as Hyundai Motorsport’s Ott Tanak leads Rally Japan overnight, with teammate and WRC points leader Thierry Neu…
The battle for this year’s FIA World Rally Championship title is intense, with Ott Tanak leading Rally Japan overnight and teammate Thierry Neuville facing a disastrous Friday that puts his championship hopes at risk. Tanak’s strong performance keeps the title fight alive, with Neuville struggling due to car issues and dropping to 15th place overall. Neuville must overcome a huge challenge to score the points needed for a shot at the championship on the final day of competition. Meanwhile, Tanak’s dominant performance not only boosts his own chances but also strengthens Hyundai’s bid to fend off Toyota Gazoo Racing for the manufacturers’ crown. The day’s events also saw Mikkelsen crash, Evans briefly take the lead, and Fourmaux moving up to third place in WRC standings. Sebastien Ogier faced challenges but managed to finish in fifth place, with Gryazin leading in the WRC2 category.
