{"id":3781,"date":"2026-06-02T13:38:43","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.worldrally.eu\/?p=3781"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:38:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:38:44","slug":"evans-masters-japan-as-toyota-secures-another-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.worldrally.eu\/index.php\/2026\/06\/02\/evans-masters-japan-as-toyota-secures-another-victory\/","title":{"rendered":"Evans Masters Japan as Toyota Secures Another Victory"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thursday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The rally began with shakedown, where S\u00e9bastien 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Nagoya castle \/\/ Photo by Tony at TG MotorPhoto<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Friday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Friday featured six stages across Asuke, Isegami\u2019s Tunnel and Inabu\/Shitara, each run twice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The opening stage saw Oliver Solberg emerge as the early leader, closely followed by Pajari, Ogier and Evans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the complexion of the rally changed dramatically in SS2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friday standings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n