Wales’ Elfyn Evans finished third as Toyota dominated the inaugural Rally Islas Canarias, taking the top four places.
World Rally Championship (WRC) leader Evans finished one minute and 17 seconds behind winner Kalle Rovanpera with fellow team-mate Sebastien Ogier second.
Rovanpera, the 2022 and 2023 WRC champion, won 15 of the rally’s 18 stages and collected a maximum 35 points to jump from sixth place overall up to second.
Evans and co-driver Scott Martin picked up 21 points for the weekend and have extended their championship lead from 36 points to 43.
Despite that, the 36-year-old Welshman – who had won the previous two rallies in Kenya and Sweden – was left frustrated to record his lowest finish of the season so far.
“When you aren’t in a position to fight for the win, in equal machinery, it never feels great,” said Evans.
Belgian Thierry Neuville struggled for grip along with the other Hyundai drivers – finishing well off the pace in seventh and losing second place overall to Rovanpera who took his first victory for seven months.
“It has not been the best start of the season but we are definitely, in this kind of condition, back now,” said the 24-year-old Finnish driver.
Toyota had been on course for a record-equalling 1-2-3-4-5 finish before Sami Pajari crashed out on Saturday’s penultimate stage promoting team-mate Takamoto Katsuta and his Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston to fourth.
Northern Ireland’s Josh McErlean crashed out on the final day’s opening test, running wide and crashing into the barriers on a right-handed corner.
The Ford Puma driver was forced to retire on the spot from 10th place but remains 12th in the overall standings.
Round five of the 14-event series is Rally de Portugal from 15-18 May.
Rally Islas Canarias result
1. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 2 hours 54 minutes 39.8 seconds
2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +53.5secs
3. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +1min 17.1secs
4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +2min 02.9secs
5. Adrien Formaux (France), Hyundai, +2min 31secs
6. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +3min 11.4secs
7. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3min 40.7secs
FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ standings (provisional)
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 109 points
2. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 66
3. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 59
4. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 58
5. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 57
6. Adrien Formaux (France), Hyundai, 44
11. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 8
12. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 8
Image source, Getty Images-
8 minutes ago
Wales’ Elfyn Evans finished third as Toyota dominated the inaugural Rally Islas Canarias, taking the top four places.
World Rally Championship (WRC) leader Evans finished one minute and 17 seconds behind winner Kalle Rovanpera with fellow team-mate Sebastien Ogier second.
Rovanpera, the 2022 and 2023 WRC champion, won 15 of the rally’s 18 stages and collected a maximum 35 points to jump from sixth place overall up to second.
Evans and co-driver Scott Martin picked up 21 points for the weekend and have extended their championship lead from 36 points to 43.
Despite that, the 36-year-old Welshman – who had won the previous two rallies in Kenya and Sweden – was left frustrated to record his lowest finish of the season so far.
“When you aren’t in a position to fight for the win, in equal machinery, it never feels great,” said Evans.
Image source, Getty ImagesBelgian Thierry Neuville struggled for grip along with the other Hyundai drivers – finishing well off the pace in seventh and losing second place overall to Rovanpera who took his first victory for seven months.
“It has not been the best start of the season but we are definitely, in this kind of condition, back now,” said the 24-year-old Finnish driver.
Toyota had been on course for a record-equalling 1-2-3-4-5 finish before Sami Pajari crashed out on Saturday’s penultimate stage promoting team-mate Takamoto Katsuta and his Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston to fourth.
Northern Ireland’s Josh McErlean crashed out on the final day’s opening test, running wide and crashing into the barriers on a right-handed corner.
The Ford Puma driver was forced to retire on the spot from 10th place but remains 12th in the overall standings.
Round five of the 14-event series is Rally de Portugal from 15-18 May.
Rally Islas Canarias result
1. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 2 hours 54 minutes 39.8 seconds
2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +53.5secs
3. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +1min 17.1secs
4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +2min 02.9secs
5. Adrien Formaux (France), Hyundai, +2min 31secs
6. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +3min 11.4secs
7. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3min 40.7secs
FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ standings (provisional)
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 109 points
2. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 66
3. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 59
4. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 58
5. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 57
6. Adrien Formaux (France), Hyundai, 44
11. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 8
12. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 8
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