In a thrilling showdown in Forum8 Rally Japan, Sebastian Ogier delivered a champion’s drive to win the Wolf Power Stage and the crucial points Toyota needed to break the tie in the Manufacturers’ standings heading into the final stage of the year. Elfyn Evans was third in the final stage and Takamoto Katsuta fourth fastest to seal the all-important Manufacturers’ Championship by three points over season-long rivals Hyundai.
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe wrapped up their maiden WRC Driver’s and Co-Driver’s titles, sealed when Ott Tanak and Martin Järveoja crashed out of the lead in Sunday’s first stage. The Belgians became the Korean brand’s first Driver and Co-Driver champions.
Evans and Scott Martin won the final round of the season, his ninth WRC victory, 1 minute 27 ahead of Ogier while Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria clinched their fifth podium of the years in their M-Sport Ford Puma.
Neuville won the Super Sunday standings from Andreas Mikkelsen and Ogier.
Sami Pajari and Enni Mälkönen finished second in WRC2, exactly what they need to clinch the WRC2 world championship.
Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov dominated the category in their Citroen C3 Rally 2.
Read the full report in Motorsport Monday tomorrow
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