WRC Sweden: Neuville snatches lead after eventful afternoon loop

The opening seven stages of the WRC’s only snow rally provided a pulsating battle for the lead with six cars separated by approximately 10s for the majority of the day.

However, a late surge from Neuville helped the Belgian snatch a 4.3s overnight lead over Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera, who briefly held the lead heading into the afternoon loop.

Toyota’s Elfyn Evans surged to the lead after winning stage four, an advantage he held until the final stage, where he lost 7.9s to Neuville struggling for grip on worn tyres in the final spectator test in Umea city centre. The Welshman dropped to third overall, 7.3s in arrears.

Team-mate Esapekka Lappi is only 8.8s adrift in fourth following a strong display on his return to the WRC with Toyota, with the Finn briefly leading the rally after winning stage two.

Hyundai’s Oliver Solberg held fifth after sliding from second position across the afternoon, but the Swede remains in the hunt for victory.

Ott Tanak’s run of bad luck continued after Hyundai was forced to retire the car due to a hybrid issue after the Estonian closed to within 1.1s of the lead after winning stage five.

It also proved to be a difficult Friday for M-Sport, highlighted by a retirement of Craig Breen after he buried his Puma in the snow on stage two.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Teammate Gus Greensmith battled gearbox and hybrid issues and a run in with a snowbank that left him well adrift in ninth, behind his stablemate Adrien Fourmaux, who produced a measured drive to end the day in eighth.

The leaderboard was shaken up after the first of the afternoon stages as Evans produced a blistering display to not only win the test but leapfrog from third