The Toyota driver managed to clock two fastest stage times from the four completed stages on Friday, following the cancellation of Stage 3 and Stage 7.
Evans earned a share of the lead with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville after the morning loop, before pulling out a 3.0s advantage over the Belgian in the afternoon.
New world champion Kalle Rovanpera also claimed two stage wins to head into Saturday’s leg in third, 5.1s adrift of team-mate Evans.
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak completed Friday’s reduced leg in fourth, (13.9s), ahead of home hero Takamoto Katsuta (20.9s), and the sole M-Sport Ford of Gus Greensmith (2m00.4s).
Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier was almost three minutes behind Evans after suffering a puncture on Stage 2, while Craig Breen and Dani Sordo retired after incidents in the morning.
Organisers shortened the first stage of the afternoon, a repeat of the day’s opening Isegami’s Tunnel test, due to the wreckage of Sordo’s Hyundai following a spectacular fire.
Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, car catches fire
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
It meant crews stopped short of the famous tunnel that had also caused crews visibility issues due to the dust being kicked up by preceding drivers.
The new look stage was won by Evans, who clocked up his second stage win of the event to move into the outright lead from Neuville.
Neuville managed to keep the pressure on the Welshman in the tricky test, that featured a relentless run of narrow twisty roads, but ended up 1.1s shy of the Toyota driver.
Ogier came through third fastest as he looked to try and recover some of the time lost to a puncture in the same stage earlier in the morning.
After undergoing a transmission repair in midday service, Tanak was back competing at full speed. The Estonian was 3.4s adrift of the pace but was faster than Katsuta, Rovanpera and Greensmith. Tanak would however lose the use of his hybrid unit on the next stage.
Rovanpera ended the day with his second stage win after setting the pace on Stage 6. The Finn, who had been battling understeer during the day, was 0.3s faster than Evans.
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Photo by: Fabien Dufour / Hyundai Motorsport
Neuville dropped 2.2s to Rovanpera after admitting he was too cautious in the test due to leaves on the road.
“It’s getting more and more [full of] leaves,” said Neuville.
“You…
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