Elfyn Evans will return to the premier class for the season opening Monte Carlo Rally with a factory M-Sport.

The Dolgellau flier will join four-time world beater Sebastien Ogier who will make his debut for the Cumbria-based team this month.

Evans competed for M-Sport in the World Rally Championship in 2014 and 2015 before stepping down to WRC2 last year finishing third overall.

The 28-year-old also competed and won the British Rally Championship in 2016.

in 2015, Evans bagged his first WRC podium with third spot in Argentina and then a career best second place finish in Corsica.

Evans will drive the #3 plated Ford Fiesta WRC car and run DMACK tyres with Ogier and Ott Tanak on Michelin rubber.

The rally gets underway on January 20 with this season promising to be the most competitive for years with Volkswagen having quit.

The German car manufacturer won the drivers’ and manufacturers’ title four seasons in a row with Ogier with the Frenchman switching to M-Sport when he found himself without a drive.