Rovanpera has incident as McErlean crashes on third stage of Rally Japan
7th November 2025Stage three of Rally Japan has already caused drama on the first full day of action, collecting incidents from both Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera and M-Sport Ford’s Joshua McErlean.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
The action got underway on Friday morning in Japan following a short, single-stage opener on Thursday afternoon. However, the second stage of the day has already caused trouble for two Rally1 drivers.
McErlean was the driver who was worse off in his incident as he crashed heavily into the trees, in the middle of the event’s third stage: Shinshiro.
Thankfully, the crew of McErlean and Eoin Treacy, were okay and out of the car, warning their incoming teammate, Gregoire Munster, and other competitors of their crash.
The car was in bad shape, having seemingly suffered significant damage, with a broken suspension and heavy front bodywork damage.
Additionally, there has been an early twist in the championship fight so late into the season with Rovanpera. The two-time world champion collected a barrier thanks to an ‘optimistic’ pace note, and tapped the metal railing.
The contact damaged the rear-left suspension of the Finn’s Rally1 Yaris which forced the Finnish driver to limp his car to the finish, losing over two minutes against his teammate Takamoto Katsuta, who has taken over the rally lead.
However, on the road section, Rovanpera and his co-driver Jonne Halttunen have conducted make-shift repairs using a spanner to hold the damaged suspension, and reinforced it with jubilee clips to keep him in the rally.
It now means the two-time world champion has moved from the rally lead on Friday morning, down to 19th overall, two minutes and 25 seconds off Katsuta’s elapsed rally time.
Only one more stage is lined up for the morning loop, the iconic Isegami Tunnel stage, before the loop is replayed once more in the afternoon.
Read more WRC here:
- Kalle Rovanpera takes overnight lead of WRC Rally Japan after opening stage
- Evans tops first pass of Rally Japan shakedown as championship rivals remain on heels
- Itinerary: what is the official schedule for WRC Rally Japan?
- Rally Japan: the latest weather forecast ahead of penultimate round
- Rally Saudi Arabia: confirmed entry list ahead of WRC season finale
- Kalle Rovanpera completes maiden F2 test ahead of WRC departure
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
