Evans, Ogier struggle at Rally Saudi Arabia

Title contenders Elfyn Evans and Sebastien Ogier toiled on the second day of the season-closing Rally Saudi Arabia on Thursday.

Service done and back at it 🫡

Big cleaning effect this morning, as expected. So far we're on target, being in front of Elfyn and Kalle is what counts. The rally has only just started though!#WRC #RallySaudiArabia 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/N1Z0EWp0mB — Sébastien Ogier (@SebOgier) November 27, 2025

After the morning's testing stages on the dusty gravel tracks north of Jeddah, M-Sport Ford driver Martins Sesks emerged as the surprise front-runner.

The 26-year-old Latvian posted the quickest times in the second and third stages to top the standings by 1.3seconds from Adrien Fourmaux.

Ogier, only three points behind Evans in the title battle, is placed seventh after a brutal morning, almost half a minute off Sesks.

#RallySaudiArabia is 🔛

SSS1 Jameel Motorsport 1 (5.22 km)
1. Tänak 3'53.3
2⃣ OGIER +1.2s
3. Sesks +1.6s
4. Neuville +2.0s
5. Evans +2.1s

🎙️ "The real start is tomorrow. Here you can only lose the rally, you can't win it. We'll try our best. It's a tough weekend ahead but we… pic.twitter.com/87igPC8jBv — Sébastien Ogier (@SebOgier) November 26, 2025

His Toyota teammate Evans, compromised by little grip having to open the road on the loose surface, ended the session in eighth, 50.3s off the lead.

Ogier, who described the conditions as "terrible', won last time out in Japan to keep the wheels on his bid for a record-equalling ninth world rally crown.

The Frenchman has enjoyed a stand-out season given he missed three of the 14 rounds of the championship in his capacity as a 'part-time' driver.

Finland's Kalle Rovanpera, who is 24 points behind Evans and still in with a mathematical chance of the title, lost valuable time with a puncture to finish the morning over one minute behind Sesks.

This inaugural visit to Saudi Arabia continues with four more stages on Thursday.