Sesks inherits lead after Saudi Arabia day 3 as title goes to the wire
29th November 2025M-Sport Ford’s Martins Sesks heads into the final day of Rally Saudi Arabia as the rally leader, with the title decider going down to the wire.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Sesks has inherited the rally lead after an early check-in penalty for Adrien Fourmaux knocked the Frenchman down from the lead to fourth overall.
The Hyundai driver was given a one-minute time penalty for checking in one minute early to TC14A, the technical zone before overnight service, which gave the Frenchman the penalty.
However, in the action, it was puncture galore on Friday. Many drivers suffered similar fates in the afternoon loop in Saudi Arabia, including Ott Tanak (Hyundai), Sami Pajari (Toyota), Fourmaux and Sesks, who all suffered some delamination and punctures.
The punctures knocked Pajari and Tanak out of podium contention, as the former dropped to seventh and Tanak dropped to 14th, in what is his final WRC event for the foreseeable future.
As such, Sesks and Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta found themselves in the podium positions after SS14 – Wadi Almatwi 2, in first, second and third, respectively.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans also suffered a puncture early on SS11, costing the Welshman valuable time to his championship rival, Sebastien Ogier. In turn, the tyre change meant the #33 Toyota finished two minutes behind the stage winner Tanak.
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera, who still stands in mathematical contention for the title in his final WRC event, moved up to fifth place, leaving Ogier and Evans in sixth and eighth.
As such, it means there is only one point separating Ogier from a ninth world title and Evans from his maiden championship…
Read more WRC here:
- Evans puncture drops him down order after morning loop at Rally Saudi Arabia
- Fourmaux leads Rally Saudi Arabia while Evans loses ground
- Sesks leads Rally Saudi Arabia as title contenders fall behind
- Rally Saudi Arabia: the schedule ahead of the WRC finale
- Rally Japan: 3 Winners and Losers
- Toyota confirms 2026 driver line-up as Oliver Solberg gets promotion
Please follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to keep up with the latest news from ApexMotorsports.co.uk!
You can also support us on Patreon or our website!
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.
