Welshman Elfyn Evans stormed to a thrilling sixth place in the opening round of this year’s WRC above Monte Carlo at the weekend.
He set fastest time on three stages with navigator Dan Barritt in their MSport Ford Fiesta using his trusted DMack tyres which he used so effectively last season.
It was an incredible opening to the year and showed he can outpace the world’s top rally drivers in some conditions.
He finished under 7 mins behind the eventual winner, Sébastien Ogier, who eased through the final leg in the mountains above Monaco to claim his fifth Monte success in total by 2min 15.0sec in a Ford Fiesta World Rally Car.
It was a dream debut for the Frenchman with the M-Sport World Rally Team, for whom this was a first win since November 2012.
Jari-Matti Latvala finished second in a Toyota Yaris on the Japanese manufacturer’s return to the WRC after a 17-year absence.
Final day engine problems for Ott Tänak denied M-Sport a one-two as he slipped to third, a further 42.8sec behind.
© Images Gary Jones