Adrien FOURMAUX wins the stage by 3.4s over Elfyn EVANS. Sébastien OGIER only fifth fastest, lost 4.9s lead cut to 7.4s over Evans. Takamoto KATSUTA only 1.1s behind. Sami PAJARI has a half spin and hit a bank at 6.5km. Cosmetic damage to rear bumper. Gus GREENSMITH stopped with brake issue.
Grégoire MUNSTER
“ A lot of understeer as well. Difficult to say, the time seems okay compared to before. This one is only twisty-twisty, but seems okay.”
Ott TÄNAK
“Japan rally is twisty. It’s mega [what was the feeling]”
Sami PAJARI
“It was a tight corner, I was sideways and hit a soft bank. The noise changed, what I hear inside, so I thought half the car is missing. The touch was really gentle.”
Adrien FOURMAUX
“This stage is really demanding. One corner to another. Every corner looks the same downhill, really demanding for the memory and the pacenotes. Also managing the tyres, I lost them a bit. Quite a positive morning anyway for now.”
Elfyn EVANS
“It wasn’t a good run. Just not feeling confident with the notes to really commit.”
Takamoto KATSUTA
“Doesn’t feel so good. Not sure what’s missing, but we need to find something. (Up on Ogier!) Good, but I’m not happy.”
Sébastien OGIER
“There was always some leaves, but not too bad in there.”
Oliver SOLBERG
“It is a proper technical stage.”
Alejandro CACHÓN
“It is never easy on stages like this. I tried to do my best.”
Nikolay GRYAZIN
“To be honest, it was a disaster on this stage, a lot of understeer here, but it is same for everybody.”
