Overview
- Takamoto Katsuta closed Saturday with a 1m25.5s advantage over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux after SS16 was called off, with Sami Pajari climbing to third.
- Oliver Solberg and Sébastien Ogier, running first and second earlier, stopped on the road to service with alternator failures that Toyota said were caused by mud ingestion.
- Championship leader Elfyn Evans retired on SS13 with right‑rear suspension damage after a double puncture on the previous test, ending a run without WRC retirements since 2024.
- Thierry Neuville retired on SS14 after suffering multiple punctures and a driveshaft failure, following earlier overheating issues across Hyundai’s cars.
- Organisers canceled SS3 due to deteriorating conditions and later installed barriers and extra taping to curb corner‑cutting, a post‑recce change criticized by drivers as the FIA cited Article 19.2 and shared video guidance.