WRC Sweden: Takamoto Katsuta snatches lead from Elfyn Evans

Key Highlights

• The Japanese driver, searching for his maiden WRC win, more than halved Evans’ advantage after winning stage five, before closing the deficit to 2.5s after claiming stage six. With Evans disadvantaged by the conditions, Katsuta moved into the lead by 0.1s after stage seven.
• Evans dropped 2.7s to Katsuta across the 5.7km Umea stage to end the day 2.8s behind Katsuta. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement“Everything went well.
• We knew the afternoon loop was going to be more difficult for the front runners, so we were just a bit patient in the morning loop,” said Katsuta. Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Evans added: “It was a good start for us this morning and the road inevitably evolved this afternoon and we did what we could.
• But it was not quite enough to hang on tonight, but there is still a long way to go.”AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPajari also benefited from his road positions in the afternoon as the Finn pulled 23.7s clear of Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi to end the day in third."I'm happy-ish.
• It is nice to be in a good position but on the other hand there is a long way to go and I was hoping to have even better speed,” said Pajari. Championship leader Solberg was fortunate to end Friday in sixth after his stage three excursion into a snowbank.