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Oliver Solberg crashed out of Rally Japan while fighting for the lead with Toyota team-mate and World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans.
The Monte Carlo winner had been setting green split times on his rivals, rally leader Elfyn Evans and third-placed Sebastien Ogier, during stage 10 when drama struck.
Solberg lost the rear of his GR Yaris entering a tight left-hander and clouted a tree, causing terminal damage to the right-rear corner of his car.
The 24-year-old’s premature exit means Evans now leads nine-time world champion Ogier, by 14.6s. Evans was first to come across Solberg’s stricken Toyota and felt it delayed his run through the stage.
“We lost a lot of time to pass [Solberg] safely, so not ideal," said Evans, who was 5.5s slower than Ogier, who won the stage that was later red-flagged after WRC2 runner Diego Dominguez rolled his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Ogier admitted he wasn’t surprised that his team-mate Solberg had crashed out when hearing the news at the stage end.
"It is not a surprise. This morning, the risk he [Solberg] is taking was too high. Unfortunately it is not really a surprise but it is a shame,” said Ogier.
Sebastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
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Sebastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Toyota’s sporting director Kaj Lindstrom was asked about Ogier’s comments that suggested Solberg was taking too much risk.
"I think Seb is the best one to tell [if Solberg was pushing too hard or not]. It is a very unfortunate situation and it looks like he can't continue for today,” he said.
The crash is the third high-profile crash for Solberg this season after accidents in Croatia and the Canary Islands.
Solberg’s exit has promoted Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari to third, with team-mate Takamoto Katsuta in fourth, while Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five.
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