The Sapporo Dome Super Special Stage caused no problems for the leading competitors on Rally Japan, and the top four positions remained exactly as they had done after SS18.

Rally leader Mikko Hirvonen started the day with a 26.2sec lead but lost a small part of that after swiping a fence with the rear of his Focus RS WRC on the opening test. He avoided problems on the remaining three stages to end the morning loop with a 16.9sec lead over Latvala. Despite deteriorating conditions, Hirvonen won two afternoon stages to extend his advantage, before Latvala narrowed it again to 15.5sec after the two Dome tests.

Latvala focused his attentions today on staying ahead of third-placed Sebastien Loeb. Sebastien Loeb completed the day well cushioned in third place, 38sec behind Latvala but 1m32.5s ahead of Chris Atkinson in third. If he holds the position until the end of Sunday's competition he will win the 2008 World Championship for Drivers'.

Subaru World Rally Team driver Chris Atkinson moved up to fourth place following the retirement of his team-mate Petter Solberg on SS18.
British driver Matthew Wilson struggled to match his opening day's pace today, but a steady approach was rewarded with fifth place. The two Suzuki World Rally Team cars are sixth and seventh. Toni Gardemeister is in sixth place - having claimed Suzuki's first-ever stage win on SS19 - while P-G Andersson is just behind him in seventh, following a puncture that he had to stop and change on SS16.
Munchi's Ford team driver Federico Villagra is eighth, in the final points winning position.