Overview
- Elfyn Evans leads Sebastien Ogier by three points heading into the Saudi finale, with 35 points still available and Kalle Rovanpera mathematically in contention.
- Ott Tanak set the fastest time on the Jeddah super special to lead after SS1, finishing 1.2 seconds ahead of Ogier and 2.1 seconds ahead of Evans, who was fifth.
- Organisers shortened Friday’s Wadi Almatwi test following driver concerns over extreme sections, trimming the stage to improve safety.
- Crews describe the new Saudi stages as rough and unpredictable with loose stones and sharp rocks, shifting strategies toward damage avoidance over outright pace.
- Nasser Al-Attiyah’s return with M-Sport Ford began with a 10-second jump-start penalty on SS1, while Rovanpera sits sixth after battling understeer.