The Toyota driver began the day 11.9 seconds clear of Hayden Paddon and more than doubled that margin across nine stages, despite damaging the rear wing of his GR Yaris Rally1 and surviving an overshoot during the afternoon.

Pajari steadily increased his advantage through the opening loop as crews adapted to conditions that proved significantly drier than expected following forecasts of heavy rain.

However, the Finn suffered a setback on the first pass of Hohenau when he ran wide into a ditch and damaged the upper plane of his rear wing. Despite the loss of aerodynamic performance, he reached midday service with a 22.8-second advantage.

With the damage repaired, Pajari continued to control the rally during the afternoon. An overshoot on Bella Vista briefly cost time, but he still extended his advantage over Paddon as tyre management became increasingly important on the abrasive Paraguayan stages.

“For me this is a different challenge than Estonia and Finland,” said Pajari, who is chasing a third consecutive FIA World Rally Championship victory. “It is more about surviving.”

The day concluded with the 3.10-kilometre Encarnación Costanera Super Special Stage, where increasingly slippery mixed-surface conditions provided a final test for the crews. Pajari completed the stage safely to retain his 24.1-second overnight advantage.

“Many things can go wrong still tomorrow,” he said. “It’s good for the moment. Happy to see that we have been competitive and the car is very reliable once again, but still it’s too early to say anything more.”

Paddon remains second on his first top-level WRC gravel event since 2018. The New Zealander was unable to reproduce the pace that had taken him into the lead on Friday but concentrated on managing his tyres and avoiding the problems that affected several leading crews during the opening leg.

He ends Saturday 32.2 seconds ahead of Evans, whose third place came under increasing pressure from Fourmaux throughout the day.

Fourmaux started Saturday 55.0 seconds behind the championship leader but delivered five stage wins to transform the fight for the final podium position.

The Hyundai driver won Bella Vista Sur and Hohenau during the morning before claiming three consecutive stage victories on the afternoon loop. By the end of SS15, he had reduced Evans’ advantage to 16.0 seconds, before cutting the gap to 13.1 seconds on Trinidad.

Fourmaux then completed the Encarnación Costanera stage 9.8 seconds faster than Evans, leaving just 3.3 seconds between the pair ahead of Sunday’s final five stages.

“I’m happy with the pace,” Fourmaux said earlier in the day. “I just need to find the balance for the tyre wear.”

Evans has continued to prioritise a clean run on an event that has already proved challenging for several of the leading crews.

“Adrien, to be fair, has been in a different rally to everyone else,” he said. “He is risking everything, but let’s see tomorrow.”

Another close battle is developing behind the podium contenders. Oliver Solberg moved into fifth place after Josh McErlean ran wide on the final stage, with just 6.3 seconds separating the pair overnight.

Paraguay’s Diego Domínguez holds seventh overall and continues to lead WRC2 on home soil. The Paraguayan completed part of the morning without his glasses after accidentally leaving them on the roof of his car before a replacement pair was sourced during midday service.

Jon Armstrong is eighth overall, while WRC2 competitors Gus Greensmith and Fau Zaldivar complete the top 10.

Sunday’s final leg features five stages covering 68.16 competitive kilometres, with Pajari aiming to secure a third consecutive FIA World Rally Championship victory following his wins in Estonia and Finland.