As Elfyn Evans, running second overall, was preparing to start the stage, a mysterious Nissan van appeared at the stage start from the direction of the special stage. Live broadcast footage showed event officials speaking with the van’s driver, who was clearly in the wrong place.
Based on the television images, the person driving the Nissan was not affiliated with the rally organisers. In other words, a civilian had somehow ended up on the rally route with their van.
As a result, the stage was cancelled entirely for safety reasons before the leading drivers, Evans and Ott Tänak, could compete. Drivers who did not run the stage were directed onto an alternative route towards the tyre fitting zone later in the day.
The official explanation cited safety concerns as the reason for the stage cancellation.
This incident likely brought to mind a serious safety breach at Rally Japan two years ago, when a civilian car accidentally entered a special stage via a side road while competitors were driving at full speed. Two rally cars narrowly avoided a collision with the civilian vehicle.
With that incident still fresh in mind, organisers opted to cancel Saturday morning’s final stage.
Only six top-category drivers completed the stage before it was stopped. Sebastien Ogier set the fastest time, closing to within 3.4 seconds of Adrien Fourmaux, who sits third overall. Ogier also outpaced his Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta, who spun at high speed but avoided any significant damage.
Drivers who didn’t compete on the stage will receive notional times later. At the top of the standings, Hyundai’s Tänak continues to lead with a 16.3-second advantage over Toyota’s Evans, based on the results from SS11.
Four more stages remain on Saturday at Rally Japan after the tyre fitting zone. The rally concludes on Sunday.
Rally Japan standings after SS12/21:
| Sija | Kuljettaja | Talli | Aika |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | x:xx:xx.x |
| 2. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +xx.x |
| 3. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +x:xx.x |
| 4. | Adrien Fourmaux | Ford | +x:xx.x |
| 5. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +x:xx.x |
| 6. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +x:xx.x |
| 7. | Nikolay Gryazin | Citroen | +x:xx.x |
| 8. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +x:xx.x |
| 9. | Hiroki Arai | Skoda | +x:xx.x |
| 10. | Heikki Kovalainen | Toyota | +x:xx.x |
| 11. | Chris Ingram | Toyota | +x:xx.x |
| 12. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +x:xx.x |
Rally Japan itinerary (CET):
Thursday 21 November
01.01 Shakedown: Kuragaike Park (2.75 km)
11.05 SS1: Toyota Stadium SSS 1 (2.15 km)
Friday, 22 November
23:44 SS2: Isegami's Tunnel 1 (23.67 km)
00:44 SS3: Inabu / Shitara 1 (19.38 km)
02:12 SS4: Shinshiro 1 (17.41 km)
04:27 Tyre fitting zone (15 min)
05:32 SS5: Isegami's Tunnel 2 (23.67 km)
06:32 SS6: Inabu / Shitara 2 (19.38 km)
08:00 SS7: Shinshiro 2 (17.41 km)
10:35 SS8: Okazaki SSS 1 (2.54 km)
10:44 SS9: Okazaki SSS 2 (2.54 km)
Saturday, 23 November
00:05 SS10: Mt. Kasagi 1 (16.47 km)
01:03 SS11: Nenoue Kougen 1 (11.60 km)
02:16 SS12: Ena 1 (22.79 km)
04:04 Tyre fitting zone (15 min)
05:05 SS13: Mt. Kasagi 2 (16.47 km)
06:08 SS14: Nenoue Kougen 2 (11.60 km)
07:16 SS15: Ena 2 (22.79 km)
10:07 Service (45 min)
11:05 SS16: Toyota Stadium SSS 2 (2.15 km)
Sunday, 24 November
23:39 SS17: Nukata 1 (20.23 km)
00:35 SS18: Lake Mikawako 1 (13.98 km)
01:38 SS19: Nukata 2 (20.23 km)
03:49 Service (15 min)
04:17 SS20: Toyota Stadium SSS 3 (2.15 km)
06:15 SS21: Lake Mikawako 2 (13.98 km) Power Stage
