Rain, leaves and patchy grip defined a treacherous start to the weekend’s longest leg. Having trailed Ogier by 0.6sec overnight, Rovanperä moved ahead on the opening Made in FRG test before the eight-time world champion’s challenge ended abruptly on the following Keplý stage.
Ogier understeered wide in a high-speed, leaf-covered section and struck a tree, his GR Yaris Rally1 suffering heavy front-left damage in a 10G impact. Both he and co-driver Vincent Landais were unharmed, but the incident echoed the crash that ended Ogier’s rally at the same event 12 months ago.
Rovanperä went on to win the 21.95km test by 6.4sec from Elfyn Evans to stretch clear at the top, later adding a measured third-fastest time on the dry Klatovy test to head into the mid-leg tyre fitting zone 39.2sec in front.
“This [Klatovy] is one of the stages others have done last year, and we don’t need to take any crazy risks,” said the Finn. “I hope both Seb and Vincent are fine – it looked like a big one.”
Evans was elevated to second overall and provisionally moves into the drivers’ championship lead with Ogier sidelined.
“Ogier’s retirement changes nothing,” he insisted. “We just keep our focus and manage the weekend.”
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak is only 1.3sec further back in third after a consistent morning, while Takamoto Katsuta hit form to top the Klatovy stage and end the loop fourth.
Adrien Fourmaux continues to lead Hyundai’s supporting effort in fifth, while Thierry Neuville endured another difficult morning battling confidence and rhythm in the mixed conditions. The Belgian was seventh behind Sami Pajari, with Josh McErlean, Oliver Solberg and Alejandro Cachón rounding out the top 10.
Ogier’s retirement has handed Elfyn Evans the upper hand in the title race
© Red Bull
Toyota still occupies three of the top four positions and remains firmly on course to secure the 2025 manufacturers’ title this weekend, needing only to avoid a major setback across the remaining seven stages.
This afternoon’s loop repeats the same three stages – Klatovy, Keplý and Made in FRG – following a tyre-fitting zone in Klatovy.
