The duo returned to service having set an identical overall time after the first four stages of Rally Japan’s return to the WRC schedule for the first time since 2010.
Newly crowned world champion Kalle Rovanpera ended the loop 0.7s adrift in third, with Ott Tanak fourth (9.7s) in his final appearance for Hyundai.
Local hero Takamoto Katsuta battled handling issues to move into fifth ahead of the sole remaining M-Sport Ford Puma of Gus Greensmith, after team-mate Craig Breen crashed out during Stage 4.
Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier completed the Rally1 field in seventh, but is almost three minutes adrift after suffering puncture on Stage 2.
The day started with drama as officials were forced to red flag the opening test of the loop after Dani Sordo’s Hyundai spectacularly burst into flames.
Sordo reported a smell of burning petrol inside the car and immediately stopped the i20 N, 16.1 kilometres into the Isegami’s Tunnel stage.
Sordo and co-driver Candido Carrera escaped the vehicle unscathed before it burst into flames. Attempts were made to extinguish the blaze but the fire became too severe, which resulted in a premature end to the Spaniard’s rally.
Officials quickly threw the red flags in order to deal with the fire.
Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, car catches fire
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“It was coming really quickly since the beginning of the stage,” said Sordo. “The car was smelling of petrol a lot and just here in a straight line the fire was coming between the seats with a lot of smoke, so I stopped the car.
“After a few minutes it started to burn. It was coming from the rear and we tried to put it out but it was absolutely impossible. I’m sorry for the team – to lose a car like this, it’s a bad day.”
Seven Rally1 cars had navigated the narrow test before the stage was halted.
Rovanpera set the pace despite having to deal with smoke entering his car, and understeer that hampered the handling of his GR Yaris.
The Finn was 1.8s faster than Neuville with Evans third fastest some 5.5s adrift, while Tanak dropped 9.7s after having to briefly stop while passing through the infamous Isegami’s Tunnel due to a lack of visibility.
“We stopped in the tunnel because it was full of dust and we couldn’t see beyond the bonnet,” said Tanak.
Worse was to befall eight-time world champion Ogier after the Frenchman suffered a puncture during the pass, which resulted in Ogier…
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