The longest day of the rally kicked off with high drama on the 24.14-kilometer Lerno special stage. Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux, who held a brilliant second place after Friday's intense leg, suffered a costly puncture that cost him nearly a minute and dropped him down to fifth overall.
This sudden setback played right into the hands of his championship-hunting team-mate, Thierry Neuville. With just 0.4 seconds separating the pair at the start of Saturday, the Belgian seized the opportunity immediately by setting the benchmark time and extending his authority at the top.
"It's a shame for Adrien. It would have been a good battle," Neuville reflected, while sparking new discussions regarding tyre durability issues in top-tier rallying. "No mistakes and the driving felt comfortable," he added, summarizing a near-perfect morning dash.
Meanwhile, the tactical battle within the Toyota camp drew massive attention. Championship leader Elfyn Evans faced an uphill battle from sixth place, opting to carry two spare tyres to maximize his road position advantage and chase down lost ground.
Young guns Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg also added immense excitement to the time sheets. Pajari comfortably eclipsed his Welsh team-mate's benchmark despite battling thick dust, while Solberg unleashed a fierce attack right from the off, ultimately outpacing Sebastien Ogier despite a minor driving error.
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