Overview

• Adrien Fourmaux closed Friday with a one‑second advantage over Hyundai team‑mate Thierry Neuville, with Sébastien Ogier third at 2.3 seconds.
• Elfyn Evans, who led at midday from first on the road, slipped to fifth as drying afternoon gravel increased road‑sweeping time losses; Sami Pajari ended the day fourth.
• Kalle Rovanperä’s early pace unraveled when a clipped bank on stage three knocked the left‑rear tyre off the rim, costing 1m11.9s and dropping him to ninth.
• Hyundai technical director François‑Xavier Demaison said the team has no data yet on Tänak’s stoppage and will analyze the car in service with an eye to rejoining on Saturday.
• Oliver Solberg leads WRC2 and can secure the title with a win as rivals Yohan Rossel and Gus Greensmith retired with engine problems, with Nikolay Gryazin 10.4s behind.