The day’s rally action saw Sébastien Ogier, an eight-time world champion, assert his dominance by winning four out of nine stages, including two in the afternoon, to hold off Ott Tanak’s fierce challenge. Ogier entered service with an 11.9-second lead over Tanak, who had been charging hard throughout the day. Tanak’s strong performance earned him 15 provisional championship points, slightly fewer than Ogier’s due to a new scoring system.
Despite starting behind Toyota teammate Kalle Rovanpera, who relinquished the lead after a morning mishap, Ogier maintained his position at the forefront. Thierry Neuville secured third place for Hyundai, collecting 13 crucial championship points, followed closely by teammate Dani Sordo. Adrien Fourmaux of M-Sport Ford emerged as a contender for fourth place, while Elfyn Evans lagged behind in sixth.
However, the day was not without its setbacks. Takamoto Katsuta retired due to damaged suspension, while a mechanical issue plagued M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster. Nevertheless, the battle between Ogier and Tanak intensified as they traded stage wins, with Tanak steadily narrowing the gap to Ogier’s lead.
In the WRC2 class, the lead changed hands dramatically as Gus Greensmith encountered trouble, allowing Josh McErlean to seize the lead. Tanak’s relentless pursuit of Ogier continued as he consistently posted strong stage times despite feeling his efforts were not exceptional.
Ogier, aware of the mounting pressure from Tanak, strategically managed his tire usage, which paid off in stage 16 as he extended his lead. Tanak faced further challenges with a throttle issue, while Neuville and Sordo fought to maintain their positions amidst fierce competition. The day concluded with Ogier maintaining a commanding lead heading into the final stages of the rally.
