Evans' WRC lead cut as Ogier secures Italy record

3 weeks ago

Elfyn Evans' World Rally Championship lead has been trim further, arsenic Sebastien Ogier made it back-to-back wins pinch triumph astatine Rally Italia Sardegna.

Welshman Evans vanished fourth, much than 5 minutes down Toyota team-mate Ogier who became nan astir successful driver successful nan Italian event's history pinch a 5th success.

The French eight-time world champion has trim his bid shortage to Evans from 30 points to 19, pinch different GR Yaris Rally1 driver, Kalle Rovanpera, a further 1 constituent back.

Rovanpera was 4th successful nan baking power of Sardinia, down Hyundai's Ott Tanak - who vanished runner-up to support his ain title challenge.

All six of this season's rallies truthful acold person been won by Toyota.

Ogier's triumph was his 3rd of nan play and came 12 months aft losing retired to Tanak by 0.2 seconds pursuing a heartbreaking final-stage puncture successful this event.

He besides had a scare connected Sunday's finale, erstwhile an overshoot successful nan last kilometres slashed his lead complete nan Estonian from 17.2s to 7.9s.

"In nan ruts, I conscionable couldn't move nan car," said Ogier.

"There was nary velocity astatine all, truthful I didn't effort to unit it and deed it, I preferred to extremity and reverse.

"Yeah, not ideal, still, it was capable to win."

Evans erstwhile again recovered nan gravel roads reliable connected nan opening day, arsenic he did successful Portugal past month.

He ne'er challenged for wide triumph and besides mislaid clip connected nan apical 3 erstwhile he punctured connected Saturday's shape 11, though ironically he gained a spot to 4th pinch Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari taking moreover longer complete a instrumentality change.

Josh McErlean's Rally Italia was complete almost earlier it started. He was 1 of six drivers caught retired by nan recently introduced Telti - Calangianus - Berchidda loop, ripping nan full rear-left area disconnected his M-Sport Ford Puma connected shape two.

The Northern Irish driver was forced to discontinue pinch suspension harm earlier restarting, retired of contention, connected Saturday and finishing 11th successful class.

He remains 10th overall.

The drivers look akin conditions successful information 7 of nan 14-event series, pinch much gravel stages successful Acropolis Rally Greece from 26 to 29 June.

1. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 3 hours 34 minutes 25.5 seconds

2. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +7.9secs

3. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, +50.5secs

4. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +5min 05.7secs

5. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +7min 29.6.secs

Selected

11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +57min 10.1secs

1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 133 points

2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 114

3. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 113

4. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 108

5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 83