Velsietis led from Friday morning on the second special stage and never lost control, ultimately beating the race winner Sébastien Ogier by 12.8 seconds after 20 challenging asphalt special stages.
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Sami Pajari also climbed onto the podium, trailing the leader by 51.4 seconds, while the home hero Takamoto Katsuta finished fourth (his rally started very badly), and Toyota secured the top four places on home soil.
Evans’ victory was his second of the season and the 50th win of his WRC career. This means he has scored 151 points in the drivers’ standings, leading Katsuta by 20 points after seven of the 14 season rounds.
“What a great weekend,” said Evans. “I have to thank the team very much for the amazing car, well managed on asphalt. I hope this victory is a sign of recognition.
“The championship is still a long way off. It’s still too early to really talk about the title, but we just have to enjoy this win.”
Evans laid the foundation for the victory on Friday morning when the decisive run through the Isegami tunnel put him in the lead. Later, he coped with changing grip, rising temperatures, and constant pressure from teammates in the final asphalt rally of the season.
Oliver Solberg was Evans’ closest rival on Saturday morning, reducing the gap to 10.6 seconds, but retired from the fight after a crash in the first Kasagi mountain stage in the afternoon.
This elevated Ogier to second place and left Evans to control the gap between the leaders. Ogier continued to push on Sunday, reducing the deficit to 13.3 seconds before the rally-ending “Wolf Power Stage,” but Evans had enough advantage to secure a record third victory at the FORUM8 Japan Rally.
Ogier admitted that the rally result was somewhat disappointing, essentially determined by the time lost on Friday in the first Isegami tunnel run.
“I know the reason, but that’s how it is,” said Ogier. “I didn’t succeed this weekend.” Not a bad rally though. The gap to Elfyn was reduced in one special stage by taking road position. The rest, even with difficulties, was not too far.”
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Pajari climbed onto the podium after a more successful second half of the rally. The Finn won several stage victories on Saturday and Sunday and secured his fifth podium from seven WRC starts this season.
Katsuta finished fourth, 12.1 seconds behind Pajari, after a determined final day sprint in front of his home fans. The Japanese driver won the first Mikawa Lake stage and was the second fastest in both the “Super Sunday” classification and the “Wolf Power Stage.” However, a poor start to the rally had reduced his confidence.
“Sorry to the Japanese fans,” said Katsuta. “We didn’t get a podium. I will keep trying. Special thanks to all the Japanese fans. Next year I will try to win for you.”
Adrien Fourmaux, who led the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, finished fifth, 2 minutes 34.8 seconds behind the leader. Thierry Neuville ended a tough weekend in sixth, struggling with his i20 N Rally1 car, while Hayden Paddon drove the third Hyundai car to seventh place.
Jonas Armstrong, representing M-Sport Ford, debuted in Japan and finished eighth, WRC2 winner Nikolay Gryazin was ninth overall, and Josh McErlean took first place after losing time on Saturday due to a tire change.
Solberg scored the most additional points after an unsuccessful weekend, winning both the “Super Sunday” and “Wolf Power Stage” stages. The Swede led the final day classification by 8.6 seconds, ahead of Katsuta, and was fastest in the “Wolf Power Stage” by 1.1 seconds.
Excellent Toyota results at home also strengthened its position in the manufacturers’ standings. The Japanese team finishes the seventh round with 370 points, ahead of Hyundai (243), Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 (106), and M-Sport Ford (85).
The WRC continues next month at the legendary EKO Acropolis Rally Greece, dominated by a long gravel route. The rally will take place in Loutraki from June 25–28.
FORUM8 Japan Rally classification:
1. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 3 hr 17 min 08.0 s
2. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +12.8 s
3. S Pajari / M Salminen FIN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +51.4 s
4. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1 min 03.5 s
5. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +2 min 34.8 s
6. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +3 min 13.6 s.
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