Ogier set the fastest time on the second run of Carmen del Paraná, finishing 2.8 seconds ahead of his team-mate Kalle Rovanperä, who continues to lead the rally.
The French star climbed to second place in the overall standings. The gap to rally leader Rovanperä is 14.4 seconds. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux holds third place, now 6.8 seconds behind Ogier.
“Seb has been pushing the whole time. I cannot respond to him. The tyres are wearing a lot. I cannot do more. Seb’s tyres are always in good shape. He has been the fastest driver this weekend, Rovanperä admitted.
Ogier has put everything on the line in his bid to win a ninth World Championship title.
“I made a small mistake at the start. It was not easy, because at times there was very little grip”, Ogier noted.
“Seb has driven really well. I myself struggled a lot with grip”, Fourmaux said in turn.
In fourth place is Toyota’s Elfyn Evans, chased by Hyundai’s Estonian star Ott Tänak, who is only five seconds behind. Defending World Champion Thierry Neuville is sixth, just 0.2 seconds behind his team-mate.
Toyota’s other Finnish driver Sami Pajari is seventh overall, more than three minutes adrift of the leaders. Driving under the Bulgarian flag, Nikolay Gryazin leads the WRC2 category by five seconds over Estonia’s Robert Virves.
On Saturday, two more special stages remain in Rally Paraguay. The competition concludes on Sunday.
Rally Paraguay standings after SS13/19:
| POS. | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | 1:57:59.8 |
| 2. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +14.4 |
| 3. | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai | +21.2 |
| 4. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +44.4 |
| 5. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +49.4 |
| 6. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +49.6 |
| 7. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +3:15.3 |
| 8. | Nikolay Gryazin | Skoda | +4:46.8 |
| 9. | Robert Virves | Skoda | +4:51.8 |
| 10. | Yohan Rossel | Citroen | +4:56.3 |
Rally Paraguay itinerary (CET):
Thursday 28 August
14:01 Shakedown: Trinidad (4.92 km)
Friday 29 August
13:03 SS1: Cambyretá 1 (18.70 km)
14:01 SS2: Nueva Alborada 1 (19.25 km)
15:00 SS3: Yerbatera 1 (30.00 km)
16:01 SS4: Autódromo 1 (2.50 km)
17:11 Service (40 min)
18:34 SS5: Cambyretá 2 (18.70 km)
19:32 SS6: Nueva Alborada 2 (19.25 km)
20:31 SS7: Yerbatera 2 (30.00 km)
21:44 SS8: Autódromo 2 (2.50 km)
Saturday 30 August
12:35 SS9: Carmen del Paraná 1 (18.67 km)
13:38 SS10: Artigas 1 (22.73 km)
15:16 SS11: Cantera 1 (13.74 km)
16:35 SS12: Autódromo 3 (2.50 km)
17:35 Service (40 min)
19:05 SS13: Carmen del Paraná 2 (18.67 km)
20:08 SS14: Artigas 2 (22.73 km)
21:46 SS15: Cantera 2 (13.74 km)
Sunday 31 August
13:29 SS16: Bella Vista 1 (21.25 km)
15:05 SS17: Misión Jesuítica Trinidad 1 (18.50 km)
16:02 SS18: Bella Vista 2 (21.25 km)
18:15 SS19: Misión Jesuítica Trinidad 2 (18.50 km) *Power Stage
