Katsuta started the final day in style, taking the lead on the first run through the nearly 30-kilometre Västervik stage. However, Evans struck back in the second pass, setting a stunning time 8.2 seconds faster than his teammate.
Toyota still holds a 1-2 lead, with Evans now leading the rally by 3.7 seconds over Katsuta.
“I didn’t know how it went to be honest. That’s good. It felt better. I needed a big step,” Evans said after hearing the gap.
Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak have dropped out of contention for victory. Neuville, in third, now trails Evans by 11.1 seconds, while Tänak sits fourth, 14.4 seconds off the lead. With only one stage remaining, a 10-kilometre Power Stage, those gaps are now significant.
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä remains in fifth place, 31 seconds behind the leader. He lost 13.1 seconds to Evans on SS17.
“There’s not much we can do. The stage is cleaning a lot. It’s really difficult to have a clean run with no proper lines to follow,” Rovanperä admitted.
Rovanperä now has little to fight for besides Power Stage points, as the gaps both ahead and behind are considerable.
Toyota’s Sami Pajari is still seventh overall, losing nearly 23 seconds to Evans on this stage.
“Not a perfect run, I was hoping for a bit better. But the feeling was okay,” Pajari said.
Rally Sweden now heads into its final stage, the Power Stage, which starts at 13:15 Finnish time.
Rally Sweden standings after SS17/18:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
| 1. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | 2:28:40.3 |
| 2. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +3.7 |
| 3. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +11.1 |
| 4. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +14.4 |
| 5. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +31.0 |
| 6. | Martins Sesks | Ford | +2:02.1 |
| 7. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +2:24.3 |
| 8. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +4:02.6 |
| 9. | Oliver Solberg | Toyota | +8:09.1 |
| 10. | Roope Korhonen | Toyota | +8:49.5 |
Rally Sweden itinerary (CET):
Thursday 13th February
09:01 Shakedown: Umeå City (3:44 km)
19:05 SS1: Umeå Sprint 1 (5:16 km)
Friday 14th February
09.18 SS2: Bygdsiljum 1 (28.27 km)
10.19 SS3: Andersvattnet 1 (20.51 km)
11.27 SS4: Bäck 1 (10.80 km)
12.55 Service (40 min)
14.48 SS5: Bygdsiljum 2 (28.27 km)
15.49 SS6: Andersvattnet 2 (20.51 km)
16.57 SS7: Bäck 2 (10.80 km)
19.05 SS8: Umeå Sprint 2 (5.16 km)
Saturday 15th February
09.10 SS9: Vännäs 1 (15.65 km)
10.05 SS10: Sarjöliden 1 (14.23 km)
11.08 SS11: Kolksele 1 (16.06 km)
12.45 Service (40 min)
14.10 SS12: Vännäs 2 (15.65 km)
15.05 SS13: Sarjöliden 2 (14.23 km)
16.08 SS14: Kolksele 2 (16.06 km)
18.05 SS15: Umeå 1 (10.08 km)
Sunday 16th February
07.27 SS16: Västervik 1 (29.35 km)
09.00 Service (15 min)
09.57 SS17: Västervik 2 (29.35 km)
12.15 SS18: Umeå 2 (10.08 km) *Power Stage
