Elfyn Evans emerged from a thrilling Friday at Rally Sweden with a slender lead, as an intense battle at the top saw just 9.1 seconds covering the leading five drivers.

The FIA World Rally Championships only pure snow rally delivered a day of fluctuating fortunes, with multiple lead changes across the seven snow and ice-laden speed tests. Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver Evans set the early pace and led at midday service, but as conditions evolved, so did the leaderboard.

Takamoto Katsuta briefly hit the front on SS5 before Evans responded immediately to reclaim the top spot. Then, as darkness fell over the Bäck stage, Ott Tänak edged ahead only to lose his advantage on the final Umeå Sprint test as worn tires cost him valuable time. Evans seized the opportunity, clocking the fastest time to move back into the lead once more.

Katsutas strong pace kept him within just 0.6 seconds of his Toyota teammate, while Tänak slipped to third, 2.5 seconds off the lead.

Adrien Fourmaux was one of the standout performers in the morning, winning two stages and running as high as second. His momentum slowed slightly in the afternoon, but the Frenchman still ended the day a strong fourth, just 5.4 seconds behind Hyundai i20 N Rally1 colleague Tänak. A stall on SS5 at the same tricky corner that caught out Kalle Rovanperäand Josh McErlean was his biggest setback.

Defending champion Thierry Neuville endured a frustrating start, struggling with understeer, but found his rhythm later in the day. A stage win helped him claw back some time, and he completed the leg 9.1 secods down on Evans in fifth overall.

Two-time world champion Rovanperä had an uncharacteristically subdued day. Not helped byan overshoot on SS5, the Finn failed to break into the top three on any stage and trailed Neuville by 16.4 seconds at close of play.

Mārtiņš Sesks impressed on his return to M-Sport Fords Puma Rally1, posting a pair of top-three stage times on his way to seventh. Team-mate McErlean, in only his second Rally1 start, continued to build confidence and finished the day eighth.

Toyotas Sami Pajari showed flashes of strong pace but was hampered by an early brush with a snowbank that dislodged a tyre from the rim and limited him to ninth. Grégoire Munster completed the top 10 in his Puma.