Evans goes for victory in Secto Rally Finland, Solberg sixth overall after high pace.

After Thierry Neuville closed in on Elfyn Evans in Friday’s final stretch, the Brit set the pace as Saturday’s Secto Rally Finland got under way. Four straight stage wins and a 17.7 second lead before the mid-day service break to Neuville.

Evans continued to maintain a high pace during the afternoon, three new stage victories followed by a third time on the final stage of the day where instead Takamoto Katsuta was best followed by Neuville. Overall, Evans has a 32.1-second lead over Neuville heading into Sunday’s four five-mile stages.

In the battle for the important third place, Takamoto Katsuta took the lead after passing Teemu Suninen by 6.4 seconds. Stable fifth Jari-Matti Latvala who is enjoying the weekend and the atmosphere in the Finnish forests but has also had to face problems with the hybrid operation in his car.

Oliver Solberg was ninth overall and fourth in the Rally2 category after Friday, a position he deep down might not have been entirely happy with. Instead, he started a hunt that resulted in strong times and advancement. At the end of the day, Oliver and Elliott Edmondson are sixth overall and lead the Rally2 category.
– Many stage victories have taken us to the lead, our big goal was to finish the rally and gather experience, then also leading is fantastic. And we will push for more experiences tomorrow, summarizes Solberg.

Sami Pajari is now 12.5 seconds behind the Swedes, because the Finns are still more important for WRC2 than Jaga the Swedes who don’t have points. Pajari has 34 seconds to Adrien Fourmaux, another 51 seconds to Nikolay Gryaz followed by Andreas Mikkelsen and Georg Linnamäe.

Early leader Jari Huttunen fell with engine problems, the weekend for Andreas Mikkelsen has been tough where punctures and problems with shock absorbers and brakes haunted the Norwegian. Gus Greensmith and Jonas Andersson rolled during the day.

There are now four stages left in the Finnish WC Rally, two stages double. Five mile special where the finish, the barely mile long Himos-Jämsä starts at 12:15 Swedish time.

Secto Rally Finland:

» Results, stage by stage.
» Results Shakedown.