Paraguay rally sees tough start

Toyota’s Sami Pajari led Rally Paraguay after a tough opening Friday that saw the lead change hands four times as world championship contenders hit trouble.

The Finn ended the day 11.9 seconds clear of Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon with Toyota’s championship leader Elfyn Evans 56.3 seconds adrift over the red gravel roads around Encarnacion.

Paddon had led at midday after taking the lead from Toyota’s Oliver Solberg on stage three but the New Zealander then suffered a front-right tire delamination that gave the advantage to Welshman Evans, whose right-rear then disintegrated with Pajari taking over at the front.

Doctors protest at the World Rally Championship for a pay raise, improved staffing at hospitals, and better working conditions in Cambyreta, Paraguay on Friday.

Photo: EPA

Pajari is chasing his third win in a row after victories in Estonia and Finland.

Toyota’s Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta rolled on the day’s opening stage while Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville retired with damaged left rear suspension and Toyota’s reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier ended his day on stage three with suspension failure after hitting a bank as the rough roads took their toll.

All were expected to restart the next day.

“It’s been a dramatic day for almost everybody, with very few who haven’t had their fair share of trouble already,” Evans said. “It has been challenging for the tires and we had to manage some issues through both long stages and unfortunately lost quite a bit of time. Others have fared even worse than us so the overall position isn’t bad, and the rain might bring a very different set of challenges for tomorrow.”

Paraguay is appearing on the world championship calendar for the second time. Evans leads Pajari by 30 points in the standings with Katsuta 41 off the lead.