WRC Finland: Evans survives drama-filled Friday with slender lead

Toyota’s Elfyn Evans will take a slender Rally Finland lead over Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville into Saturday following Kalle Rovanpera’s spectacular exit from the World Rally Championship event.Evans spent the majority of Friday fighting with Rovanpera, after the latter assumed the rally lead on stage two and then went on to reel off five consecutive stage wins.

Only five Rally1 cars reached service following retirements from Rovanpera, Esapekka Lappi, who crashed his Hyundai in stage five, and M-Sport duo Ott Tanak and Pierre-Louis Loubet. The Finn was surprised to set the pace after stating he was “too careful” on the wet gravel roads. However, he still lit up the timing screens to take the stage win by 0.2s from Katsuta, with nearest overall rival, Evans, 1.4s slower.Photo by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport

"I stopped at the yellow sign! I was angry with the wipers and I stopped a bit before the finish," said Neuville. “In the fast-speed [the wipers] are not cleaning. I couldn't see anything there.” The following Neuville set the fastest time in the stage despite being slowed by spectators warning the Belgian of Rovanpera’s crash ahead.

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