Ford’s continuing good fortune on Friday afternoon’s stages in Japan continued on SS7, when team-leader Mikko Hirvonen took the stage win - his first of the rally - and moved up to second place.
Hirvonen completed the repeated 27km Sikot test in 15m 35s - 20 seconds quicker than his time when the stage was run earlier as SS4. Petter Solberg set the second fastest time, to remain in the rally lead by a margin of 9.6sec.
Sebastien Ogier, who had been in second place, slipped 7sec behind Hirvonen into third. The Frenchman was fourth-fastest but reported no specific problems.
After voicing transmission concerns on the previous stage, Dani Sordo set the sixth fastest time.
After the 3.57km Koyka sprint stage (SS8) crews will return to the Sapporo Dome for two more passes over the Super Special stage.