Elfyn Evans is ready for another challenging Monte Carlo Rally when he makes his World Championship return today.

The Dolgellau-born flier posted the 14th quickest time in Wednesday’s shakedown in his DMACK M-Sport Ford Fiesta RS WRC car.

Now Evans is set for Thursday’s opening two stages in the French Alps after the traditional launch in Monaco.

The 28-year-old said: “We had a small issue with the car on the first run which slowed us a bit and then the road was getting very dirty and slippery with many big cuts.

“With not having much time in the car, it was great to get a few runs at shakedown even though we were trying to preserve the tyres a little for the rally.

“The recce was good and we saw a real mix of conditions on the stages so it’s definitely going to be another challenging Monte.”

Evans tamed the Alpine roads last year when he won the WRC2 category but will be relishing his full-blown return.

France’s four-time world champ Sebastien Ogier was quickest on his bow for the M-Sport team in his Ford Fiesta RS WRC car.

Ogier has switched to the Cumbria-based outfit after Volkswagen quit the sport at the end of last season.

Most teams opted to limit their runs on the shakedown at Gap to preserve tyres for the next three days.