Elfyn Evans will take a 17.8s lead into the final day of WRC Rally Japan after a dramatic Saturday which saw Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Oliver Solberg crash out of victory contention.

Thierry Neuville moved into the Croatia Rally lead on Saturday after a brutal afternoon loop on the FIA World Rally Championship’s first pure asphalt rally of the season ripped a potential first WRC win from Sami Pajari’s grasp and transformed the shape of the fight for victory.