Belgian Thierry Neuville on Hyundai finished in second place, ahead of another Toyota: Esapekka Lappi, who was back in a Toyota in the WRC after three years.

With his success, Rovanperä has now also taken over the world championship lead ahead of Thierry Neuville, third is still Monaco winner Sébastien Ogier, who did not compete in Rally Sweden on M-Sport Ford.

In the WRC debut of the Rally Ypres, the final four stages were held around the legendary Spa circuit. In the process, the stages took the drivers over service roads onto the grounds of the circuit with the grand finale in the new rallycross stadium.

Toyota driver Rovanperä finished in third place, making him the best-placed driver from the Japanese manufacturer. As a result of second place at the Wolf Powerstage, WRC leader Sébastien Ogier was able to extend his lead over brand colleague Evans to 38 points.

Behind the three leading Hyundai drivers, an armada of no less than four Toyota Yaris is lurking in wait for a slip in the top three on day two: Rovanperä, Evans, Ogier, Katsuta.

Sebastien Ogier secured third place, 1:23 minutes behind his brand colleague Evans, and thus continued to lead the Drivers’ Championship. Toyota also leads the manufacturers’ standings with 183 points, ahead of Hyundai with 146 points.

“We might not have been the fastest, quickest crew this weekend, but we still had really good pace, stayed out of trouble and did enough to keep Dani behind us today,” said a jubilant Evans. “This comes at a really good time for our championship challenge as we head towards some tough gravel rallies.”

Takamoto Katsuta scored a career-best fourth-place finish in a third Yaris. The Japanese swapped places with Ogier during Saturday’s grueling stage in the Cabreira Mountains.

The M-Sport Ford duo of Gus Greensmith and Adrien Fourmaux finished fifth and sixth in their Fiestas. Both lost time with throttle problems, Fourmaux lost even more time due to a spin on the first day, with fifth place matching Greensmith’s best WRC performance.

The Belgian and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe misjudged a corner in Mortágua (SS7) and crashed into the embankment, causing their Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC to tip onto its side. Although they were able to right the car to make it to the stage finish, the resulting damage to the suspension on the road section was irreparable.

Behind the two remaining Hyundais and four Toyota Yaris (Katsuta #4, Ogier #5, Rovanperä #6), the two Ford Fiesta were 7th and 8th (Greensmith ahead of Fourmaux).

Kevin Hansen is no stranger to the Extreme E series, having been instrumental in the testing process of the ODYSSEY 21 in 2019 along with teammate Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky and his brother and Andretti United driver Timmy Hansen, and getting to drive the vehicle for the first time around Chataeu de Lastours in France.

Kevin normally competes in the FIA World Rallycross Championship for Team Peugeot-Hansen. At the start of his career, the 22-year-old Swede secured the RX2 title in 2015 and won the FIA Rookie of the Year Award in 2016.