The Forum8 Rally Japan returned as the seventh round of the championship, but in a very different slot on the calendar. Traditionally held in November, the event moved to 28 to 31 May for 2026, bringing warmer temperatures and more humid conditions to the Japanese asphalt. As the final tarmac rally of the season, it represented one last opportunity for crews to showcase their speed on sealed surfaces before the championship headed back to gravel.
Thursday
The rally began with shakedown, where Sébastien Ogier set the benchmark with a 1:55.3 on his second run. Behind him came Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, Adrien Fourmaux and Takamoto Katsuta, with the field separated by only small margins.
The competitive action was preceded by a vibrant start ceremony in Nagoya, where thousands of fans welcomed the crews. In a typically Japanese touch, drivers and co-drivers took part in a series of entertainment challenges testing their knowledge of each other, rhythm, coordination, trust and traditional Japanese games. The honours ultimately went to the M-Sport crew, who emerged victorious from the light-hearted competition before the serious business began.
Friday
Friday featured six stages across Asuke, Isegami’s Tunnel and Inabu/Shitara, each run twice.
The opening stage saw Oliver Solberg emerge as the early leader, closely followed by Pajari, Ogier and Evans.
However, the complexion of the rally changed dramatically in SS2.
Evans produced a standout drive, finishing 7.5 seconds faster than Solberg. The Welshman vaulted from fourth to first overall, while Pajari dropped to fifth after admitting he had encountered “quite many surprises” throughout the stage.
SS3 brought concern for the home crowd when Katsuta briefly went off the road. Fortunately, the Toyota driver escaped without major damage and retained sixth place overall.
By the end of the morning loop, Evans had established himself as the man to beat. Solberg remained his closest challenger, while Ogier sat comfortably in third.
The afternoon stages brought fewer dramatic moments but continued to shape the rally. In SS5, Josh McErlean stopped at 11.3 km before continuing, while Pajari mounted a recovery drive that moved him back into fourth position.
Friday standings
- 1. Evans – 1:13:07.0
- 2. Solberg – +15.7
- 3. Ogier – +17.1
Saturday
Saturday’s itinerary consisted of eight stages through Obara, Ena, Mt. Kasagi and the Fujioka Super Special. While the morning initially appeared calm, the day ultimately produced the rally’s decisive moment.
The opening stages passed without significant changes among the leaders. Evans controlled the pace, Solberg remained within striking distance and Ogier continued to apply pressure.
Then came SS10. Approaching a left-hand corner, Solberg ran slightly wide and struck a roadside pole. The impact ripped the right-rear wheel from the car, leaving the Toyota stranded partially off the road and ending what had been a strong challenge for victory.
The retirement reshuffled the podium positions immediately. Ogier moved into second place and Pajari inherited third, while Evans suddenly found himself with a much more comfortable lead.
The afternoon’s Fujioka Super Special stages provided entertainment of a different kind. Fourmaux and McErlean both lost around five seconds after performing one donut too many for the spectators, while Evans survived a major scare during the second pass, coming dangerously close to the armco barrier near the 2 km mark.
Saturday standings
- 1. Evans – 2:32:05.06
- 2. Ogier – +17.8
- 3. Pajari – +44.4
Sunday
The final day featured six stages across Nukata, Lake Mikawako and Kuragaike, each run twice.
Unlike several previous rallies this season, Sunday produced no major changes among the leading trio. Evans managed his advantage carefully, avoiding unnecessary risks while maintaining competitive pace. Ogier remained secure in second place, while Pajari continued his impressive weekend to hold third.
Although the overall classification remained stable, Solberg ensured he would not leave Japan empty-handed. After his retirement on Saturday, he returned under Super Rally regulations and immediately demonstrated the speed that had made him a contender for victory. He secured maximum Super Sunday points ahead of Katsuta, Ogier, Evans and Pajari.
The Power Stage followed a similar pattern. Solberg once again topped the timesheets to claim maximum bonus points, with Katsuta producing a strong run in front of the home fans to take second. Ogier, Pajari and Evans completed the top five.
Final Results
- 1. Evans – 3:17:08.0
- 2. Ogier – +12.8
- 3. Pajari – +51.4
WRC2
The WRC2 category provided one of the closest battles of the weekend. Alejandro Cachón and Nikolay Gryazin traded the lead repeatedly, with neither driver able to establish a decisive advantage. Cachón ended Friday on top, but Gryazin moved ahead on Saturday as the Spaniard struggled with understeer. The fight remained alive until the very final stage, where Cachón pushed hard in a last attempt to reclaim victory. However, a spin followed by a stall cost him crucial seconds and ended his hopes of overturning the deficit. Gryazin ultimately secured the WRC2 win after a tense three-day battle, while Cachón settled for second and local driver Yuki Yamamoto completed the podium in third.
