The morning loop of the WRC Arctic Rally saw Esapekka Lappi leading the pack with a significant 1m24.3s lead over Adrien Fourmaux from M-Sport. Elfyn Evans from Toyota followed in third place, trailing by 1m40.5s after Toyota’s Katsuta faced issues on stage 10. Oliver Solberg showcased his talent by securing an impressive fourth place overall (+2m25.4s) in the WRC2 class. Further down the line, Thierry Neuville from Hyundai climbed from 11th to fifth place overall, 2m42.9s behind Lappi, his teammate.
Change in Weather Conditions
The heavy snow showers that dominated the previous day’s action began to subside on Saturday, replaced by much colder temperatures. This change in weather conditions favored the front runners, as Ott Tanak, returning to the rally, set the pace on the first test of the day, stage nine (Vannas, 15.65km). Despite crashing out on stage four the previous day, Tanak managed to edge out Evans by 0.3s, utilizing the compacted ice layer on the road to his advantage. Kalle Rovanpera, the world champion, also returning from a crash, was the third fastest on the stage, just 1.2s behind Tanak.
In the battle for the overall lead, Katsuta put up a fight against Lappi, posting a time 2.3s faster on stage nine, narrowing the gap to 0.9s. However, his hopes for victory were dashed on stage 10 (Sarsjoliden, 14.23km) when he lost control of his car and ended up in a snowbank, damaging the front of his GR Yaris. This incident allowed Lappi to widen his lead to a comfortable 1m31.6s over Fourmaux, with Evans moving up to third place.
As the morning stages were set to be repeated in the afternoon, the competition heated up. Rovanpera clinched victory on stage 10, followed by Tanak and Evans. Fourmaux solidified his position by winning the final stage of the loop (Stage 11, Bygdsiljum 28.06km) with a time 1.5s faster than Neuville, extending his lead over Evans to 16.2s.
With a comfortable lead in hand, Lappi decided to play it safe during the afternoon loop, ensuring that he maintained his advantage. Despite not pushing for the fastest time, Lappi acknowledged the need to preserve his lead and to secure a potential WRC victory. Reflecting on his performance, Lappi expressed satisfaction with his position at the top, reminiscing about his previous win in Finland back in 2017.
The WRC Arctic Rally showcased the intense competition and unpredictable nature of rally racing. From challenging weather conditions to unexpected twists on the stages, the drivers had to demonstrate skill, focus, and determination to navigate through the event. As the afternoon loop commenced and the drivers prepared for the evening run through the Umea stage, the spectators and enthusiasts eagerly awaited the unfolding drama of the WRC Arctic Rally.
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