Takamoto Katsuta heads Rally Sweden ahead of Evans
14th February 2026Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta heads the winter Rally Sweden as the Japanese driver edges ahead of Elfyn Evans in a dramatic day
feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Katsuta had taken the lead of Sweden at the end of the afternoon loop, claiming the lead after SS7 – Bäck 2, ahead of Evans, who had previously led the rally on Friday.
The Japanese driver had chipped away at Evans’ lead on the second pass of stages in the afternoon. By the end of the day, the two Toyotas were separated by 2.8 seconds after the final stage of the day concluded.
However, it was a dramatic day as the lead changed hands twice. Solberg was the overnight leader heading into Friday morning, but a few mistakes pushed the Swede down the order in his home event.
The more costly mistake was on SS3 – Andersvattnet 1, where the championship leader ploughed through powdery snow as he veered off the course. Solberg was able to get back onto the road, albeit with a puncture, and limped home.
Sweden’s lead changed hands from Solberg to Evans in the morning, before Katsuta took over in the afternoon. By the end of the day, the former rally leader, Solberg, finished down in sixth, 37.5 seconds off the Japanese driver’s pace.
Regardless, Toyota still remain in a strong position in the snow as they currently hold a provisional 1-2-3, with Katsuta leading Evans and Sami Pajari rounding out the podium positions, 22.2 seconds behind the leading time.
So who is where?
- Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota
- Elfyn Evans, Toyota
- Sami Pajari, Toyota
- Esapekka Lappi, Hyundai
- Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai
- Oliver Solberg, Toyota
- Thierry Neuville, Hyundai
- Jon Armstrong, M-Sport Ford
- Joshua McErlean, M-Sport Ford
- Roope Korhonen, WRC2
Lorenzo Bertelli, who had brake problems in the morning, finished the day 28th overall in his Rally1 Yaris.
Read more WRC here:
- Evans takes Rally Sweden lead as Solberg sinks
- Oliver Solberg takes overnight lead of Rally Sweden
- Weather report: latest ahead of WRC Rally Sweden
- Entry List: WRC 2026 Rally Sweden
- Solberg controls Monte Carlo lead as Evans keeps Ogier at bay
- Solberg extends and strengthens WRC Rallye Monte Carlo lead
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