Neuville leads WRC Rally Japan 2022 after two days of competition

Hi, friends!

Belgian Thierry Neuville took the lead of the last event of this year's World Rally Chamionship which has been held in Japan. It was Welshman Elfyn Evans who was leading for most of the time in his Toyota Yaris Rally1 but Neuville posted faster times in his Hyundai i20 Rally1 and that way once more proved that the development of that car goes in the right direction.

Eight-time WRC champion Seb Ogier had really bad first long day of competition with loss of more then two minutes on only one special stage because of the puncture (but he got off somewhere) so he is in the cruising mode today, just enjoying and posting fastest times (three times and on the other stages very close to the top). Ogier is currently in 7th position, just 5.4s behind his team mate and this year's champion Kalle Rovanpera. I expect a good fight on Sunday between team mates.

From what I saw on WRC+ is that Elfyn Evans isn't in that confident style and mode because he is just to harsh on himself. He didn't win this year and after two seasons of battling for the championship, he is somewhere where he doesn't want to be.

Hyundai's Ott Tanak is in the final podium place on his last outing with Hyundai. He is 23.1s off the lead and I don't see him battling for the win on Sunday because both guys in front should retire for that to happen which is kinda impossible.

Japanese rally star Takamoto Katsuta is in 4th place at his home rally, only 10.3s behind Tanak so we can expect another fight between Toyota duo.

Emil Lindholm still leads WRC2 class and if he finishes like this, he will be a new WRC2 champion. Let the best win - as always...

You can follow the LIVE results on the following LINK:
https://www.ewrc-results.com/results/73369-forum8-rally-japan-2022/

Credit for photos and videos to WRC and Youtube

Follow @pfunk, @guiltyparties and @themarkymark for newest witness news.

Great attitude from crew at @minnowsupport :)

Grab a beer and enjoy!

Cheers!