Drama in the desert: A day that tested every driver’s nerve and endurance unfolded in Saudi Arabia’s second leg of the FIA World Rally Championship. Toyota GAZOO Racing’s rising star Sami Pajari is locked in a fierce duel for the top spot after an exhilarating Day 2, with his determined teammates chasing close behind. But here’s where it gets interesting — the brutal Saudi landscape and the unpredictable surface conditions made every kilometre a battle between skill and survival.
After a spectacular Wednesday-night opener in Jeddah, Thursday’s stages took competitors deep into the rugged northern mountains and expansive dunes. The day featured two challenging loops of three stages each, split by a midday service break. The fine, sandy terrain meant that ‘road cleaning’ became a decisive factor — the first cars had to clear slippery sand, leaving slightly firmer lines for those behind.
Fresh off his first-ever podium in Rally Japan, Pajari came charging out of the gate. Starting eighth on the road, he attacked the fast-flowing Al Faisaliyah dunes right from Stage 1, using his position to his advantage. He ended the morning third overall, topping the times in the final stage of the loop, Khulais. As the afternoon unfolded, Pajari overtook Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux for second place and then claimed another stage victory on the rocky Moon Stage, snatching the overall lead from Mārtiņš Sesks of M-Sport Ford. Yet, the rally gods weren’t done testing him — a puncture on the final gravel stretch cost about 10 seconds, dropping him back to second. He ended the day just 6 seconds shy of leader Fourmaux after a return to the Jeddah super special.
Further up the road order, Takamoto Katsuta held his composure through the punishing terrain. Finishing sixth overall, he remains within 22.9 seconds of the rally leader — proof that consistency, not chaos, is paying off.
The Championship Titans Struggle
The three heavyweights of the drivers’ championship — Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, and Kalle Rovanperä — fought a different battle altogether. Running at the front of the pack meant they suffered heavily from loose sand and the dreaded cleaning effect, which sapped pace and grip.
Al Faisaliyah’s smoother surface provided brief relief. Ogier shone there, clocking two third-fastest times and ending the day seventh. Rovanperä endured a rougher run, losing roughly 40 seconds after tyre damage in Stage 4. He still managed to overtake Evans, who was first on the road as championship leader, securing eighth by day’s end.
Voices from the Dust: What the Team Said
Juha Kankkunen (Deputy Team Principal): “It’s been a fascinating day, constantly shifting from one stage to another. Frankly, it’s surprising we didn’t see more drama because the recce reports warned us about extremely rough conditions. Our top drivers had the hardest time — sweeping the road and carving the clean lines others benefited from. Still, they’re close together, and tomorrow’s new road order could shake things up. As for Sami, he’s been exceptional — calm, fast, and smart. Tomorrow’s longer stages might bring new twists.”
Elfyn Evans (Car 33): “This was one of those days that really tests patience and confidence. I started too cautiously and lost time early on. Then the cleaning effect hit hard — worse in some areas than others — and it’s frustrating not knowing exactly how well you’re driving when the surface keeps changing. But that’s rallying. Tomorrow’s stages will be longer and tougher, so my focus remains on staying clean and consistent.”
Kalle Rovanperä (Car 69): “We all faced similar challenges, but the tyre damage in the morning really cost us. We decided not to stop and swap — it was the right call strategically, but we lost both time and a better starting slot for tomorrow. The cleaning today was even worse than expected, so Friday could be very demanding again. Still, it’s far from over; we’ll see what we can recover.”
Sébastien Ogier (Car 17): “We expected difficulty, but some of the loop’s more technical sections were brutal for those first on the road. The opening stage felt smoother, so I tried to use that to push for time gains. The overall result doesn’t fully show it, but I’m happy with our performance given the conditions. The real goal is to keep ahead of Elfyn and Kalle — and those gaps remain tight. Tomorrow, we keep the pressure on.”
Takamoto Katsuta (Car 18): “It was as tough as we thought, very hot and physically draining. The team made a great effort to keep us comfortable. That first desert stage was fantastic — high-speed, massive jumps — pure rally fun! After that, I focused on avoiding punctures, which were a huge risk this afternoon. I’d love to be higher than sixth, but there’s a long way to go, and we’ll keep building on this.”
Sami Pajari (Car 5): “Overall, a very strong day. Two stage wins and running near the top times throughout — that’s encouraging. The tyre problem on the last gravel stage was annoying, but being just a few seconds off the lead keeps us fully in the mix. It’s tricky to balance aggression and caution here; I tried to push when it felt safe and ease off when it didn’t. Tomorrow’s going to be long, but if we stay sharp, who knows what’s possible?”
Thursday’s Standings (End of Day 2)
- Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – 1h18m45.3s
- Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +6.0s
- Mārtiņš Sesks / Renārs Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) +6.9s
- Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +13.7s
- Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +14.9s
- Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +22.9s
- Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +44.2s
- Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m21.2s
- Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m25.3s
- Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) +2m10.9s
(As of 21:10 Thursday. For live standings, visit wrc.com)
What’s Ahead
Friday brings the rally’s longest and possibly most decisive day — 134.34 competitive kilometres split across two loops of three stages, with service in between. Expect dust, drama, and more battles for every position.
Join the Conversation
Do you think road-cleaning disadvantages are unfair at this level? Should the FIA consider tweaks to stage order rules? Share your take below — this debate always stirs strong opinions among fans!
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