Ogier began the day with an 8.9-second advantage after leading throughout Friday’s opening leg, but Solberg steadily reduced the gap across Saturday’s six stages. The Swede won both passes of the 28.90km Moya – Gáldar test to ensure the battle for victory remains finely balanced ahead of Sunday’s deciding four stages.
Elfyn Evans holds third overnight, 21.9 seconds from the lead, after an improved Saturday performance in which he claimed three stage wins. Sami Pajari and championship leader Takamoto Katsuta complete the top five, maintaining Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT’s strong presence at the front of the field.
Rain and damp sections made conditions particularly challenging during the morning loop, with grip levels changing rapidly on Arucas – Firgas – Teror and Moya – Gáldar. Evans made the strongest start, winning the first two stages of the day and closing the gap to the crews ahead.
Solberg then responded on the first pass of Moya – Gáldar, edging Ogier by 0.1 seconds despite making light contact with the Armco. With rain intensifying in the final kilometres, Ogier’s overall lead was reduced to 5.3 seconds by the midday service.
Conditions were drier during the afternoon loop, but the pressure at the front continued to build. Evans was again fastest on the repeat of Maspalomas, before Solberg and Ogier set identical times on Arucas – Firgas – Teror.
The largest swing came on the final stage of the day, where Solberg went 1.4 seconds faster than Ogier on the second pass of Moya – Gáldar, reducing the gap to less than four seconds with one day remaining.
“I did a few mistakes, it wasn’t perfect,” said Solberg. “[Our retirement in] Kenya was bad luck and Croatia was my fault, so I won’t panic to take him, but at least we’ve been there all day to put some pressure on him. Let’s see, it’s four long stages to go, a long loop, and everything is possible.”
Ogier, who is targeting his first WRC victory since FORUM8 Rally Japan last November, welcomed the close fight.
“It looks like it’s going to be a good Sunday,” he said. “I’m excited. Tomorrow, we have some new stages which are going to be fun to drive. That’s the reason we are here – if you don’t enjoy this kind of fight, then better stay home.”
Evans ended the day third after a more competitive performance than on Friday. The Welshman moved clear of Pajari during the day but said there was still further progress to make.
“It was important to do better than yesterday, that was the only target really,” said Evans. “I wasn’t happy with my day yesterday. I’m not fully satisfied today either, but it’s a good step forward at least.”
Pajari holds fourth, 52.7 seconds from the lead, while Katsuta is fifth after a more difficult day on the clean, high-grip asphalt. Adrien Fourmaux leads HHyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team’s challenge in sixth, having moved ahead of team-mate Dani Sordo during the morning loop. Sordo holds seventh on his return to WRC action, with Thierry Neuville eighth.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Josh McErlean climbed to ninth after a consistent day, while team-mate Jon Armstrong went off the road 26.1km into the final stage. Spectators assisted in returning his Puma Rally1 to the road, and he reached the stage finish with front and rear damage.
In WRC2, Yohan Rossel remains in control for Lancia and will begin Sunday with a 27.5-second advantage. Behind him, Alejandro Cachón and Léo Rossel are separated by just 0.2 seconds in the fight for second, with Eric Camilli fourth.
Sunday’s final leg features two passes of Ingenio – Valsequillo and Santa Lucía – Agüimes, with four stages remaining to decide the outcome of Rally Islas Canarias.
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