Jari Ketomaa will start day two of Rally Japan with a lead of 55.3s in the Super 2000 World Rally Championship section of the gravel event. Martin Prokop, in another Ford Fiesta, is second with Bernardo Sousa making it a Fiesta top three.

Although the stage was set for a thrilling battle following Thursday's two runs through the Sapporo Dome superspecial, which were won by Ketomaa and Sousa respectively, Ketomaa was left in the clear after completing Friday's first stage 30.5s faster than Prokop, with Sousa a further 9.1s slower than the Czech driver.

There were no any worries for Ketomaa, the S-WRC winner in New Zealand and Portugal earlier this season. Although he reported oversteer following the morning loop of stages, the Finn enjoyed a trouble-free afternoon:

- We've just managed the car in the afternoon, said Ketomaa, who was fastest on five of Friday's six gravel stages.

- The level of grip and the condition of the road were not so easy but otherwise the car has been better in the afternoon.

- Now I just need to keep my position and not make any mistakes. The road has been very rough but we are confident tomorrow with such a big lead.

Source: wrc.com