The final day in Saudi Arabia has arrived — and what an event it has been. A rally defined by dust, drama, and brutal unpredictability has now set up a championship showdown like no other.
From punctures to time penalties and game-changing wheel changes, Friday’s running delivered twists that reshaped both the rally leaderboard and the WRC title fight.
A Day Filled With Dust and Chaos
The desert conditions took no prisoners. Thick dust clouds punished the early runners, and the soft sandy surface proved unforgiving as the day unfolded.
The youngsters Martins Sesks and Sami Pajari came out swinging, starting the rally with impressive pace and confidence. But as the dust settled, the conditions bit hard — stinging their early momentum and introducing chaos into the standings.
Despite the challenges, Martins Sesks rose to the top, ending the day leading Rally Saudi Arabia, closely chased by Thierry Neuville and Takamoto Katsuta, both refusing to let the young Latvian break away.
Penalties, Punctures & High-Stakes Moments
This rally will be remembered for how quickly fortunes changed:
Adrien Fourmaux was leading early on, but a time penalty pushed him down to fourth.
Ott Tänak suffered the biggest hit for Hyundai, losing around 1m 30s after stopping to change a wheel on SS13.
Fourmaux and Sesks both suffered costly deflations on the final stage, shrinking the gaps dramatically.
Sesks and Fourmaux now head into Saturday separated by just 2.4 seconds.
Thierry Neuville sits third, just 3.4 seconds behind — perfectly positioned to attack on the final day.
The rally is still wide open.
Championship: Still Too Close to Call
While the rally leaders traded seconds, the championship contenders played it smart.
The top three drivers — Ogier, Evans, and Rovanperä — adopted a cautious approach, avoiding unnecessary risks in the treacherous desert stages.
The standings after Friday:
Sébastien Ogier – 277 points
Elfyn Evans – 276 points
Kalle Rovanperä – 258 points
Just one point separates Ogier and Evans heading into the final day. The title is still on the wire, and the margin for error is almost nonexistent.
Final Day Ahead: Three Stages + Wolf Power Stage
Saturday marks the last day in Saudi Arabia before the champagne flows and a new (or legendary) champion is crowned.
With three competitive stages plus the Wolf Power Stage, anything can happen — and likely will.
The championship could very well come down to Wolf Power Stage points, setting up one of the most dramatic finales in recent WRC history.
The biggest question now:
Will Ogier allow Elfyn Evans a shot at the win, or will Toyota team orders come into play?
Or will the desert write its own unpredictable ending?
Rally Fanatics will be watching every second of the final showdown.
Rally Fanatics 
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