Elfyn Evans is right in the hunt for a podium finish as he looks to put an end to his recent rally pain in Spain. The Dolgellau-born ace and co-driver Daniel Barritt are third overall after the opening gravel stages of the RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España after a succession of consistently competitive stage times.

With only two rounds of the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship remaining, Elfyn Evans will be hoping that his rotten luck will change this weekend on Rally Spain (25-28 October). The RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España, as it’s officially called, is the penultimate round of the series and the only mixed-surface event on the calendar, combining one day of gravel stages with two days on asphalt. Co-driven by Dan Barritt, Rally Spain is an event that should suit Evans and his M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC – although in five previous starts, his best result is seventh in 2017.

Dai Sport’s Rally man, Paul Evans, spent the weekend of the Wales Rally GB with the men and women of Ralio, S4C’s motorsport programme, as they filmed, interviewed and then edited,  at speeds Elfyn Evans would have been proud of, the high octane sport – and all from an industrial unit in Deeside! Paul also […]

Elfyn Evans, without doubt, has the pace and ability to win the World Rally Championship but as he licks his wounds following an unfortunate exit from his home rally, the Dolgellau’s born driver’s future is yet to be confirmed. Will he stay at M-Sport, whose own future is up in the air, or move to […]

The scene is set for an epic finish to the 2018 edition of Dayinsure Wales Rally GB tomorrow, after the momentum in this year’s FIA World Rally Championship title fight swung dramatically back and forth in front of thousands of enthralled fans in the heart of the classic mid Wales forests. Under bright, sunny skies, spectators flocked to the stages in huge numbers with an appetising itinerary of Myherin, Sweet Lamb Hafren, Dyfi, Gartheiniog and Dyfnant in the scenic Cambrian Mountains – some of the most demanding and spectacular speed tests anywhere in the world. They did not go home disappointed. With no midday service and almost 100 miles of flat-out competition, any issues or errors were always going to be magnified today – as two of the three title protagonists found out to their cost. First to fall was World Championship leader Thierry Neuville, who slid into a ditch on the first run through Hafren. It was only the assistance of quick-thinking spectators that enabled the Belgian to rejoin – but the delay dropped him well down the order. The drama, however, was not over yet.

An engine misfire has put Elfyn Evans out of the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB. The Dolgellau driver was a superb second, just 8.9 seconds behind Ott Tänak, when he drove out of midday service in Deeside and headed for the first of this afternoon’s three forestry stages. But he never reached Clocaenog. On the A494 near Mold, a misfire stopped his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC, with flames reportedly coming out of the exhaust and setting the car’s rear bodywork on fire.

Elfyn Evans has made a magnificent start to today’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB eight stages, and after the morning loop of five tests is second overall – just 8.9 seconds behind rally leader Ott Tänak. Co-driven by Dan Barritt, Evans started today in 13th place, after last night’s short opening stage at Tir Prince. The Dolgellau driver leapfrogged eight places to fifth after a great time through this morning’s slippery opening forest stage in Clocaenog and was then up to second after a superb time through Brenig, which is the longest stage of the event. And his time could have been even quicker, had a false puncture alarm not distracted him in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC. Another great run through Penmachno forest, plus two fast and consistent runs through a very tricky Slate Mountain stage, sees Evans enter midday service in Deeside in a very strong second place.

Esapekka Lappi set the fastest time on the opening stage of the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB to lead the event after tonight’s one mile spectator stage around the Tir Prince Raceway near Rhyl. Co-driven by Janne Ferm, the Toyota driver set a time 0.3 seconds faster than team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila and World Rally Championship leaders Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai), while five-time world champions Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC) were fourth, a further 0.4 seconds behind. Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja, who crashed their Toyota on the morning’s Shakedown stage in Clocaenog forest, made it all three Yaris WRCs in the top five, while Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger completed the top six in their Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC.

The stages are set for a spectacular scrap for supremacy on this weekend’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (4-7 October), after crews completed their final preparations for an event that will pit some of the world’s biggest motor sport stars against both the clock and each other. One of the most historic and popular events on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, Dayinsure Wales Rally GB is renowned for pushing drivers and co-drivers to the very limit in their pursuit of the coveted Peall Trophy. This year’s new-look route – featuring 23 gruelling speed tests, totalling just shy of 200 competitive miles – will be no exception.

After his historic win in last year’s Wales Rally GB, Elfyn Evans will be confident of pulling off another fine home performance in this year’s race, according to Machynlleth rally driver, Osian Pryce. Pryce will not be on the start line for this year’s rally, as he saves his funds for a tilt at the global rallying circuit next season.

After a pretty torrid season so far in the FIA World Rally Championship, winning his home Dayinsure Wales Rally GB for a second time in a row would be the perfect tonic for Elfyn Evans – although, by his own admission, it’s not going to be easy. Twelve months ago, Evans was the coolest man in Wales as he guided his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC to a comfortable maiden WRC victory. 2018 promised so much. As team-mate to five-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, Evans relished the chance to compare himself directly with the world’s best in the same car. And he has – except it’s usually been under Rally 2 comeback rules, after early punctures, problems and mishaps have ruined any chance of victory.

Billed as a blockbuster, next week’s Dayinsure Wales Rally GB (4-7 October) really has it all: a dramatic opening night under the floodlights; challenging new speed tests in the legendary Welsh forests and a stunning finale with cars racing through the closed streets of Llandudno – the first free-to-attend WRC stage in the UK for more than 20 years. Then there’s the added excitement of thrilling three-way title fights for both Drivers’ and Manufacturers’ WRC Championships as well as a local Welshman – Elfyn Evans – gunning for back-to-back GB victories after his 2017 success. It all adds up to an absolutely unmissable sporting spectacle.