Carnage in Japan 🌧️💥

Elfyn Evans led FORUM8 Rally Japan by 1min 49.9sec overnight after extreme conditions in Friday’s opening leg caught out several of his FIA World Rally Championship peers.
Torrential rainfall, thick fog and roads covered with damp leaves were just some of the challenges faced by crews on the first full day of action at the 2023 season finale. Survival was the aim of the game and, while several of his rivals faltered, Evans barely put a wheel wrong.
A minor overshoot in the second stage of the day did not prevent the Welshman from reaching the lunchtime service halt with 26 seconds in hand over Thierry Neuville, his main competition for the runner-up spot in this year’s drivers’ championship.
Neuville, winner of the 2022 event, responded in the afternoon by slicing Evans’ advantage by more than half with a blistering run through Isegami’s Tunnel 2. But his comeback was cut short when he crashed his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 into a tree on the first corner of the following test.
The Belgian wasn’t the only driver to be caught out by the conditions and joined team-mate Dani Sordo as well as M-Sport Ford Puma hotshot Adrien Fourmaux on the retirements list after both drivers left the road at the same location in SS2.
Evans was left clear at the top of the standings and, with two of his Hyundai rivals sidelined, headed a GR Yaris podium lockout for Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Leading positions after Friday:
1. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris 1h 25m 22.7s
2. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris +1m 49.9s
3. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +2m 6.6s
4. A Mikkelsen / T Eriksen NOR Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 +3m 0.2s
5. G Munster / L Louka LUX Ford Fiesta Rally2 +3m 5.0s
6. N Gryazin / K Aleksandrov Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 +3m 29.6s
#wrc #rallyjapan
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[@RedBullRally]

With several drivers crashing today, we wonder who you think will go on to win the rally on Sunday?

[@DanArnets1492]

Things would be a lot more fun if the top class cars weren't so absurdly expensive

[@NicodemusMahardhika]

Tanak & martin I guess, i hope they are consist

[@dark6c159]

2:58 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@matthewruss]

​@@NicodemusMahardhika3 minutes down is unlickley

[@stewartgrindlay9760]

The person who completes the course in the least time?

[@themangix357]

Hey Red Bull Rally, you guys should take over the official WRC Channel. You guys do a much better job than WRC itself.

[@eidrag]

this. Got the vibes from early 2010s I like this over official channel

[@anydaynow01]

So true RB and Netflix needs to make a WRC series to get folks in the USA into it, call it Survive to Drive!

[@luminescentlion]

They basically are the WRC, not many cars that don't contain some sort of red bull sponsorship

[@tobi8222]

Redbull is the Promoter of the WRC, they own it

[@joshagosh]

@@anydaynow01 There's the American Rally Association, and a few other places trying to make it more popular in America.

[@eclipse101.]

The double crash in the same river was crazy! The conditions these drivers have to go through, massive respect

[@EvoraGT430]

Triple. Don't forget Katsuta crashed there too.

[@christophermiel]

Even knocking over a cross, so it seems to be tricky and dangerous there.

[@pocketpc_]

The two cars parked side-by-side makes for an incredible image

[@ugaboga9829]

@@pocketpc_yeah and the colours were amazing

[@mitchrich6]

The second car driver must have freaked out when he saw another car,he must have been hoping there weren't any people in the way Of course another fear would have been a river or flooded pond due to rain.

[@fr3gl3ss54]

2:59 Here you can see 2 WRC Cars in their natural habitat. Being to exausted from driving the whole season they decided to take a break and drink a sip from the local river.

[@thibautmerlin2376]

2:57 Looks like those cars have great time, quietly hanging out in the river

[@dsgpdk5664]

They have just stopped running and started practicing Zen.

[@Columbian.sand.blasted.nostril]

It’s a great camp site, easy access. Difficult to leave, really sucks you in

[@Pshady]

Redbull with a neat recap. Shame rally is so badly presented by its owners, as seen in this edit it’s a fantastic sport

[@tobi8222]

Redbull are the owners,

[@spiyder]

@@tobi8222owners are fia

[@jackwilson8651]

If only WRC returned to the 1990s glory days

[@olis_garage]

Crazy to see how stressed out the drivers are at the end of the stage, you can really tell they have put it all on the line

[@ddaroa]

True. Tanak looked liked he'd rather be anywhere else after his stage.

[@Wyatt1314.]

Tanaka almost couldn't dpeak

[@Jonathan_Doe_]

The really crazy thing is, the total stage distances are way shorter than they once were. In the 80’s drivers had to keep the adrenaline flowing all day with little respite.

[@cheeseinmypocketsvelveeta2195]

Well that and probably because they're all on amphetamines

[@thegoons3415]

yeah no shit

[@ddaroa]

Absolutely brutal rally, this. Almost rivals the Safari.

[@RedBullRally]

We certainly don't envy the drivers out there in those conditions!

[@varizza]

Driving with zero visibility and still finishing in one piece. These lads are crazy

[@yokoichi]

すごい霧、こんな道でアクセル踏めるだけで尊敬する

[@shuzekky]

3:07 That’s why every car in Japan has an air conditioner, not only to make it cooler or warmer but to defog quickly😅 4:00 The narrow eerie tunnel , Isegami Tunnel, is locally famous for the rumor of ghosts. You’ll feel as if it goes narrower and narrower as you run forward.

[@TheKaptainKombat]

Always love to see taka pulling out all the stops, seeing him pull a handful of stage wins especially at his home rally and to finish off the season is perfetto 👌

[@igrvks]

I really hope we get to see a championship battle in Rally Japan one day, with night stages and optimal weather conditions.

[@tinyrodent2821]

What an incredible stage. The Japanese know how to put on a spectacular motorsport event.

[@HAHA.GoodMeme]

redbull recaps are awesome thank you!

[@AZBCDE]

This is why WRC Driver are the best drivers in the world

[@Andrew_Waples]

I can't imagine driving while your windshield is all fogged up; let alone at that speed.

[@ajrichar0]

The F1 Las Vegas FP2 video claimed that "the world's best drivers" were tackling the track. Seriously, watching this Friday Rally Japan recap, and you realise the F1 comment is just spin.

[@kian_de_gamer1638]

So sad that the WRC promotor sucks so badly. Maybe a PR machine like Red Bull can make WRC great again?

[@sashamugs]

Sports are always going to be built on watching it live. That's always going to be a problem with non-circuit races. You can only stand in one spot and watch the car zoom by.

[@hairyneil]

​@@sashamugsetc used to be much more popular and it wasn't on a circuit then. The main problem is lack of manufacturers. But the speed isn't great either, Taka going into the trees and limping to the end was far more common 20 years ago. It seems now that the slightest off can destroy the car. Takes the fight out of it.

[@Lew699]

Rally , absolutely love it!

[@ryobibattery]

Red Bull does the recap better than the WRC

[@NineteenEighty8]

The fact Red Bull covering all of WRC better than WRC themselves is amazing. Thank you Red Bull!

[@阿乱須美志]

今年もしっかり心霊スポット走ってるなぁ。

[@lucasn0tch]

The Japanese weather forecast channel "Weathernews" was right. There were indeed hazardous conditions in Hokkaido during Rally Japan.

[@Dunkelzeitgeist]

This video is 100x better than the official wrc commentary and footage

[@larszenthio1012]

Taka-san never went off the road, but he hit a tree with the right front fender and radiator, when he had to pull the handbrake and spin to avoid going off and into the creek. 😎👍

[@user-dm2hr3qk9l]

So sad for Taka. I have no idea how disappointed he must be. But I have such high hopes for the next season. It's like he unlocked his full potential in this rally.

[@GregorySkidmore]

I realize that the cars need to be lightweight, but why sacrifice the ability to reduce windscreen condensation? Am I missing something in the rules of rally car?

[@rileybanks1191]

my guess is they just didn't anticipate *this* much water

[@ほりっち-p5m]

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing🇯🇵🗾🇬🇧🇫🇷🇫🇮🇯🇵🇮🇪がんばれ❗️

[@w47ch3r7]

The i20 and the Puma down in the river gives me unrecoverable A70 Supra vibes

[@alexsp4853]

2:57 those two cars just sitting there in the riverbed at the same corner just doing a little chat over a picnic in the rain

[@TeeOG]

Such beautiful roads, such beautiful racing. TONS of skill here.

[@hnswr]

To avoid fog in windshield, try to wipe it with shampoo or tobacco. Our truck driver (non AC vehicle) has try this trick for a long time and it works.

[@paulgering7703]

This is what separates the wheat from the chaff. Real rally racing conditions.

[@LEF3133]

Seen this happen in the Rally of Qld. Rained mid stage on downhill hard right. Six cars went off the road. Was a long time between cars at our SOS point.

[@isoslow]

Rally Japan is my favorite.

[@christhomasen7407]

Japan is jumping with Matsuri at Ebisu and Wrc at the sime time !

[@b-790]

Surely cleaning pine needles is better than rocks and fesh fesh. Nice close of the calendar though!

[@iamapat]

You'd think these cars would be able to defog a windshield lmao, what a oversight

[@MedicMain9]

This has aged like fine milk

[@sen_ex]

Better highlights than the official WRC channel lol

[@ericlechat719]

James May having flashbacks at 3:56

[@julianmorgan79]

The Welsh driver being fastest in damp, foggy miserable weather? No fucking way lol this man was probably born in this weather.

[@Uglier.]

full gas with a fully fogged up windshield is something ill never do 😂

[@matthewh8812]

Of course the Welsh guy knows how to drive in the rain

[@labanabadie8373]

AC in the car should help with the foggy windshield

[@hardhoofdful]

This is so freaking awesome, imagine racing with your windscreen fogged up

[@wolfe1970]

Wish they would bring back the welsh rally

[@ShannonSouthAfrica]

I love how they all speak English. Well done gents.

[@Barry.ONeill]

Their heater boxes must be crap 🤦‍♂️ imagine your windscreen steaming up in a car that costs €750k 😅 no heated windcreen even or no rain x anti fog or even some shampoo works

[@bilal6094]

Rally is scary man damn

[@TheIronTank]

Oi! You can't park there! 😂

[@situationunchanged9733]

Roads?? Where were going, we don't need... Roads.... 😎

[@maryhaston4960]

I want to watch WRC race on TV, But How do I never watch the race on TV( what channels is?), Oh few crash and rain, and Good/ crash / rain video

[@jasonswift7098]

Its up to the co-driver to use a towel to wipe down the windscreen so the driver can see!!

[@marcor18a]

To much rain, this should have clearly been a red flag

[@toaster4269]

'Hey, I don't think you can park there'

[@Y2Kvids]

Great conditions

[@taevion0]

i don't really watch rally and maybe dumb question but do rally cars not have defrost?

[@dd3715]

Why Ott Tanak drove like that. Could he just sop for 10 seconds and wipe windshield with his arms, because all fog was from the inside?

[@nathantoney.1501]

What tires for this type of wet?

[@ArunMohandas555]

No Defoggers in a WRC car ?

[@zaceryhammond1144]

When can we get 30 min episodes

[@doomer1816]

Nothing on the screen but still full send. This is rally ❤️💯

[@guilhermecahu]

The irony of the commentator 😂

[@peterjohnston1224]

WRC drivers are the best drivers in the world. Formula 1? Pah! Sure they're excellent as well, but they wouldn't survive for long driving a rally car.

[@sdfsss9649]

ダニとフルモーの崖落ち、見方によっては痛車の不法投棄に見えなくもない。

[@Kiss__Kiss]

Everyone trying to SAMURAI their way through these treacherous stages..

[@satenjun]

“Completely fucked up” was what I heard…. Then I turn on the sub😂

[@djstatyk1540]

$350k easily sitting right there in a river. The balls on these guys man

[@Chleb-rw7kf]

Wheres the eurobeat, I thought driving fast in Japan automatically plays eurobeat

[@myburneraccount669]

Must be an interesting tree

[@nagasako7]

Rain and fog? Just another day for Takumi delivering tofu tho

[@TN-st8sv]

「三河」仮ナンバー、左ハンドルのTOYOTA「ヤリス」各車は、どの国で車検を取っているのでしょうか？

[@JohnSmith-qe6fb]

2:46 Hyundai for sale, light damage

[@michalkosar7642]

Is it just me or do all the drivers have a distinctly Finnish accent?

[@CatRacer1A2A]

I'm astonished these guys aren't running heated windshields!!

[@krissusp3811]

They have windshield blowers. Unfortunately for Tänak they maltfunctioned :/. Usual sight for M-Sport, everything breaks. Probably why he's going back to Hyundai

[@leifandersen2756]

Why do they not have heater in the car!It is dangerous not to be able to look out of the windscreen !

[@sammywambua]

I think a proper rally should be a strictly gravel and ice/snow affair. Asphalt means less thrills. No lots of sideways driving. No confetti of dust and stones smashing camera lenses. No juxtaposition of modern technology and the simplicity of raw earth. Pardon my Kenyan bias... this is the home of the Safari Rally.

[@geluix69]

That’s almost a million dollars worth of car parked in stream .

[@michaelmonstar4276]

Those crashes are hilarious, though... So dry. - Well wet, but the delivery of this report is so dry, like it's a parody.

[@Netryon]

This is your winter weather too, but it's now that you wished to have after buying as much vodka and brandy as you could as gasoline. So we are coming back here, because were all rally loving people. And they say they always were here with a Dakar as a Rally, but It never was it I wished it to be Need.

[@DespaceMan]

Luck of the draw, you could be the first driver out when the conditions are fine then a storm or fog comes along it's sayonara for the rest.

[@jo3ywils0n39]

What a shit track for cars and drivers pushing their limits. Can't blame the drivers, it's their job to drive to the extremes.

[@VINCEAKOKO]

wow!

[@Car_Factory_007]

Three accidents at the same point 😮 Someone must check if there is any oil spillage or something like that

[@hbmluiks]

It seemed to me there was a wooden bridge just before the corner - if you brake on slippery wood, you will lose control of the steering.

[@SecksyMan]

wet tarmac was the only winner this day

[@presidentasia3139]

nice

[@argyafathurendra1863]

that cut funny

[@Ayebday]

wow thats sketchy AF

[@khacnhat7592]

伊勢神(Ise god) 神＝god Takamoto Katsuta was saved by god. Dani Sordo and Adrien Fourmaux become prey to the gods at Isegami.

[@漢は黙って三連単]

あ、この前のやつか、勝田エグかったよなぁ、あのアクシデントさえなければほんまに

[@dabul4380]

it shouldn't be allowed that these british guys with this accent talk to someone in the world

[@Lord-Snowflake]

that was a war

[@ragged_zombie8432]

cant park there m8

[@ブルーフラッグ-x3r]

雨と霧でよく中止にしないですよね？霧はさすがにヤバいと思います。コドライバーが、可愛そう😢

[@taketake4641]

それ言ったらガチの雪山でラリーするし 何らかのトラブルでボンネット開いた状態でも走るし そんなもん言い出したらキリないよ その為にコドラ(助手)がいるんやから

[@qa1e2r4]

MF Ghost!

[@ianvital8834]

Well touge racing

[@juanjosemunozgarcia1276]

Hi Mike

[@Eunos_FD3S]

wow empty stadium, is this sport dying?