Penalty chaos and punctures shake up Saudi standings as Sesks surges to overnight lead

On the day's final stage, the pendulum swung back to Fourmaux when Sesks collected a puncture, nursing his Ford Puma over the finish line.

Martins Sesks/Renars Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) lead Rally Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, the final round of the World Rally Championship. Picture: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool .

A day of drama in Rally Saudi Arabia didn't just end on the stages and led to Latvia's Martins Sesks (Ford Puma Rally1) heading the standings at the final overnight halt. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 Rally1) had finished SS14, the day's final stage, with a 2.4s lead over Sesks and 5.8s ahead of Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 Rally1). However, the French ace and co-driver Alex Coria checked in a minute early to TC14A - the technical zone prior to overnight service - incurring a 60s penalty. The revised results promoted Sesks into a 3.4s lead over Neuville, Japan's Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) and his Northern Ireland co-driver Aaron Johnston are third with Fourmaux demoted to fourth and 57.6s off top spot.

The battle for the WRC Drivers' title equally dramatic. Pre-event leader Elfyn Evans lost some at least 90s when he had to stop and change a punctured wheel on SS11, he finished the day in eighth - two places behind team mate Sebastien Ogier, who is chasing a record equalling ninth title - Evans is seeking a maiden title. Ogier also lost time with a puncture but is was close to the end on SS14 - costing him fifth place to another team mate Kalle Rovanpera, albeit by just 0.2s. On current WRC positions Ogier is a point ahead of Evans but with ten points available from tomorrow's final day and the Wolf Power Stage, it's far from over. The Irish crew of Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) are 11th overnight, their car stalled on SS10 and a puncture on SS14 prompted McErlean to quip, "It is super hard top avoid all stones."