Elfyn Evans kept the home crowds smiling as the Dayinsure Wales Rally GB delved deep into the Welsh forests, with a virtuoso performance yielding no fewer than six stage wins as the M-Sport ace continued to zero in on a history-making moment.
After leaving his adversaries trailing on each of the day’s first five speed tests – two of which, Gartheiniog 1 and 2, passed quite literally behind his backyard – Evans maintained his composure through tricky conditions on the two eagerly-anticipated night-time stages to conclude the leg with an increased advantage of 53.1 seconds.
With low fog restricting visibility, the Welshman did not put so much as a wheel out-of-place as he bids to become the first British driver to win his home event since the year 2000, but behind him, the order shuffled dramatically as the scrap over the runner-up spoils intensified – and with it, the battle for Drivers’ World Championship glory.
Hyundai team leader Thierry Neuville went on the attack from the word ‘go’, and it was only a determined effort from World Championship leader Sébastien Ogier that kept the Belgian out of second place at day’s end – by the narrow margin of just half-a-second.
A stellar effort from Jari-Matti Latvala in the fog of Aberhirnant vaulted the Finn up to fourth overall, ahead of Neuville’s team-mate Andreas Mikkelsen and title protagonist Ott Tänak, who slipped from second to sixth as the day progressed – albeit still only 13 seconds shy of his M-Sport stablemate Ogier.
Northern Irishman Kris Meeke sits seventh in the pecking-order, ahead of Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon and Toyota young gun Esapekka Lappi, with the Finn moving into the top ten at the expense of countryman Juho Hänninen, who crashed out in spectacular style during the shortest stage of the day at Cholmondeley Castle just over the English border in Cheshire. Dani Sordo completes the overnight top ten, with Tom Cave advancing from third to second in WRC2 and Chris Ingram continuing to lead the front-wheel drive class by a significantly increased margin.
The family-friendly Toyota RallyFest at Cholmondeley Castle was one of the undisputed highlights of the day, attracting huge crowds who enthusiastically lapped up the festival atmosphere and high-octane entertainment on offer.
Sunday will comprise five short speed tests totalling just over 25 competitive miles. That is what now stands between Evans and history, as the local hero edges ever-closer to becoming the first British winner on home soil in 17 years – and the first Welsh driver ever to win any WRC event outright. Stay tuned!
“It’s been a good day, with some fantastic stages,” enthused the 2016 Prestone MSA British Rally Champion. “I think the conditions played into our hands a bit, so we had to try to make the most of that and I felt we managed the situation pretty well. We took the DMACK tyres right to the very limit and they responded brilliantly.
“I’m happy with our performance through the tricky night stages; in Aberhirnant, we could barely make out the edge of the road, let alone what was in front of us but we pushed on and I was glad to get through that one.
“I must say, the fans have been incredible – to see so many spectators lining the stages and road sections is fantastic. On long days like this, it’s vital to stay focussed and that support really gives us an extra boost. Looking to Sunday, the strategy is to carry on the way we have been going. In the position we’re in, it would be silly to change that approach now…”
2017 Dayinsure Wales Rally GB after 16 of 21 Special Stages
1. Elfyn Evans/Daniel Barritt – Ford Fiesta WRC 2h 32m 39.2s
2. Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia – Ford Fiesta WRC +53.1s
3. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul – Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +53.6s
4. Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila – Toyota Yaris WRC +57.7s
5. Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger – Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +1m 03.6s
6. Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja – Ford Fiesta WRC +1m 06.1s
7. Kris Meeke/Paul Nagle – Citroën C3 WRC +1m 27.6s
8. Hayden Paddon/Sebastian Marshall – Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +2m 04.0s
9. Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm – Toyota Yaris WRC +2m 41.0s
10. Dani Sordo/Marc Martí – Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC +3m 35.8s
DAYINSURE WALES RALLY GB
2017 FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 12
Sunday 29 October**
07:00 Service – Deeside Rally Village (15 mins)
08:34 Alwen 1 (Stage 17)
09:08 Brenig 1 (Stage 18)
10:06 Gwydir (Stage 19)
11:09 Alwen 2 (Stage 20)
12:18 Brenig 2 Power Stage (Stage 21)
13:35 Ceremonial Finish – Mostyn Street, Llandudno
* All times are for the first car and subject to change