Sat, 08 Nov 2025 12:31:11 +0000
Rally Japan’s final day is shaping up to be a high-stakes gamble, with World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans admitting the predicted heavy rain and limited experience with this year’s Hankook tyres could transform the event into a “lottery.”
With just six stages and 10 bonus points on offer, the outcome of this year’s title race hangs in the balance. Teams have been anticipating heavy showers on Sunday, set to add a significant challenge to the already notoriously tricky Japanese asphalt roads. The primary concern is the lack of experience crews have with Hankook’s wet tyres, particularly in full wet conditions.
Evans, currently second in the championship, sits 6.5s behind Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier. Both drivers are desperate to maximize points and head to the inaugural Rally Saudi Arabia season finale in the strongest possible position.
“It will be a bit of a lottery I guess here when it rains,” Evans stated to Motorsport.com. “We have to take a bit of a guess with the car [set up] also to know where we push ourselves. We don’t have so much experience with the car that we are using here, and it is quite different to the last time we drove in the rain, so we have to see what it is like.”
Ogier, the eight-time world champion, while acknowledging the challenge, remained optimistic. “Tomorrow is money time, like we say, and that is the day where we have to be on it all day. The win is in play but also the Super Sunday points are also counting,” he told Motorsport.com. “We will have to deal with it [the rain] and it will not be the most enjoyable thing on these roads and with these tyres, but again it is the same for everybody and let’s hope it is not too bad. I hope we can have a good day and there is not too many issues for anybody as we know that these tyres are pretty weak.”
Ogier, despite a setback on Stage Three – a barrier collision damaging his GR Yaris’ rear suspension – has since recovered and remains a key contender. He admitted the rain will level the playing field, adding, “We will have to deal with it [the rain] and it will not be the most enjoyable thing on these roads and with these tyres, but again it is the same for everybody and let’s hope it’s not too bad.”
The unpredictable weather presents an opportunity for rivals like Kalle Rovanpera, who could gain the most if Evans or Ogier experience difficulties. The Finnish driver, currently 1.3 points adrift, suffered a setback when he hit a barrier in Stage Three, damaging his GR Yaris.
Ultimately, the final day of Rally Japan will be a test of skill, adaptability, and a significant dose of luck. With limited experience and challenging conditions, the outcome remains uncertain, potentially offering a final, dramatic twist in the championship battle.
Fuente: https://www.motorsport.com/wrc/news/evans-braced-for-lottery-wrc-rally-japan-final-day/10774794/
