The Toyota driver starred in challenging wet conditions to win all four stages of the morning loop to transform his overnight 6.9s lead to 17.7s, as WRC crews headed to the midday service.
Hyundai’s Teemu Suninen snatched third from Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta after an error from the Japanese driver.
Three-time Rally Finland winner Jari-Matti Latvala successfully navigated the stages to hold fifth overall, as the Toyota team principal continued to build his speed in his one-off WRC comeback drive.
The Rally1 field grew to six cars for Saturday after M-Sport completed a repair on Pierre-Louis Loubet’s damaged suspension after his crash during Friday’s stage three.
However, world rally champion and yesterday’s long time rally leader Kalle Rovanpera was absent due to chassis damage suffered to his GR Yaris following his spectacular roll in stage eight. It was a similar situation for Esapekka Lappi, while M-Sport’s Ott Tanak was sidelined after an engine failure caused by a rock.
The wet weather that plagued Friday continued as crews tackled the brand new stage 11 (Vastila 18.94km) in slippery conditions.
It didn’t halt rally leader Evans as he claimed his first stage win of the event. The Welshman almost doubled his overall rally lead by being 4.6s faster than rival Neuville, who struggled to tame his i20 N on the slippery gravel roads.
“I was fighting with the grip. As soon as I tried a little bit more, I lost the car. I couldn't stay in the line and I did what I could,” said Neuville.
Source: Autosport