Evans beat Sebastien Ogier by 12.8 seconds, while Sami Pajari finished third and Takamoto Katsuta was fourth as Toyota dominated the event.

In Rally Japan, Elfyn Evans sealed victory to extend his World Rally Championship lead to 151 points at halfway, with Takuma Katsuta 20 points behind in second place.

Solberg crashed on Saturday afternoon while challenging for the lead, ending his rally bid but later earning Sunday Power Stage bonus points.

Lower-profile drivers also stood out, with Jon Armstrong eighth, Josh McErlean tenth, and Solberg finishing 21st on the day amid a deep field.

The rest of the Toyota lineup showed mixed results, with Hyundai and Ford struggling to rise above mid-pack positions.

Oliver Solberg crashed on Saturday, removing a potential challenger from contention on the final day, before rejoining for Sunday points.

Evans surged to an early advantage by being first on the road, taking stage two by 7.5 seconds and recording fastest times on stage three and the second run through Isegami’s Tunnel, creating a substantial Day 1 lead.

Ogier, racing part-time for family reasons, did not pressure Evans and acknowledged that Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin controlled the rally.

The event featured damp, variable weather from overnight rain, influencing tire choices and strategy, with tempo shifts and punctures affecting Katsuta and Toyota’s top positions.

Pajari and Katsuta praised their performances but admitted room for improvement, while Solberg’s retirement left his team and fans hoping for a stronger gravel campaign ahead.

Ogier finished second, pressuring Evans but unable to overturn the leading position due to road position and handling limitations.

Ogier noted that the gap to Evans was widened by a single decisive stage favoring Evans, despite an overall strong rally.