Sébastien OGIER beats Elfyn EVANS by 0.1s to take a maximum 35 point win.
Ogier best Evans by 11.6s with Sami PAJARI claiming a maiden podium in third.
Takamoto KATSUTA has a spin but recovers despite a front right puncture.
Jan SOLANS
“We were in second place and trying to push for the win but we did a spin. We lost second pace but third is still. Great result and we have chance for the Challenger championship.”
Nikolay GRYAZIN
“It is aquaplaning a lot. It is not clear. On the straight in the car is aquaplaning and I think I had a front right puncture. I was in road mode in the final kilometres. It was a disaster on this stage.”
Alejandro CACHÓN
“It is incredible. I love this feeling. I have to say a lot of thanks to my team bevies not a lot of people know until Wednesday we didn’t have a car here. We had problems with the boat. They took plane with a new car to come here so we can start the rally. Big thanks to all the sponsors and my family and friends. I have no words.”
Oliver SOLBERG
“Incredible weekend. Thanks for Toyota for such amazing car. I took it easy, but it was a fun. Great year so far.”
Takamoto KATSUTA
“It was very tough. Unfortunately the afternoon loop didn’t work well. There was so much standing water and I was giving everything I could do. There were a few places where I didn’t have anything due to the standing water so we got caught out. We finished but we are not happy of course and I’m so sorry for the fans and team. I’m really disappointed for sure my fans are more disappointed so I’m just trying to get better next time and get what I was looking this time.”
Kalle ROVANPERÄ
“It was really really tricky and a bit dangerous in places with a lot of aquaplaning. All the fast sections you are aquaplaning everywhere. It depends how the rain is. If the rain gets better for somebody it will make a huge difference. It was definitely not the weekend we wanted to have but sometimes it is like this. I have been a bit too inconsistent with the results and we have one more weekend to go. We will try again in Saudi.”
Grégoire MUNSTER
“I’m feeling really pleased we started the weekend and it was a big struggle but everyone put the effort in to get the feeling better. It is the small battles that we win. A top five is a good result and we are happy with that. Big job from the gravel crew as that is probably one of the trickiest conditions I have faced. Big thanks to them.”
Ott TÄNAK
“It has not only been tough but extremely challenging to come through. It seems like we had issues since the beginning and this morning we changed the rear differential and the car was back to normal. Somehow we always struggle but we didn’t know what it was but at least it came out and here we are. Super frustrating that is for sure.”
Sami PAJARI
“Thank you so much. It is a really cool feeling I was already a couple of times quite close but it is a really special feeling to get the first podium and again in Japan. Big thanks to the team.”
Elfyn EVANS
“I was going to say it has been fun but that is alive about today. Overall it has been a fun weekend to try and fight with Seb. Today it has been very difficult to do that and conditions have been very difficult and he has driven very well. It is not easy but we tried. He is always tough to beat. He has been exceptionally fast all year. He just made the small difference and that is what it takes to win at this level.”
Sébastien OGIER
“That is the way I like it. Obviously a perfect result. It has been a challenging weekend and the rain today nothing was certain. It was the start of a new rally this morning. We had a big set up change this morning and it felt good we didn’t have to do anything. Well done to the team it is amazing to count on that. We could enjoy. Now let’s go to the next one. It is a perfect weekend to come back so close. Let’s hope the last one is not a lottery.”
