Latvala out in Finland; Lappi back in front

Esapekka Lappi has regained the lead of Rally Finland after Toyota teammate Jari-Matti Latvala was forced to retire from the event.

Latvala had won all five speed tests on Saturday in his Toyota Yaris to overhaul overnight leader Lappi and build a 8.5sec advantage over his fellow Finn. But Latvala's came to a stop midway through the Ouninpohja special stage to spoil his chances of a fourth win on his home rally. Initial reports suggested the car had encountered an elecrical problem.

Toyota is still poised for a 1-2 in Finland, with Juho Hanninen taking over second second in another Yaris, 54.1sec behind Lappi after SS18/19, while Teemu Suninen was a further 4.3sec behind in a Ford Fiesta, as Finns continued to fill the top three places. Elfyn Evans was just 6.2sec adrift in a similar car in fourth.