Wales Rally GB in town - but Elfyn's in trouble

Rally enthusiasts from across the world descend on Mid Wales tomorrow as Wales Rally GB comes to town.

But just 12 months after winning the 2017 title Dolgellau’s Elfyn Evans who was hoping for more glory hit problems on day two.

The Welshman was running an excellent second, within ten seconds of leader Otto Tänak when the engine in his Ford Fiesta picked up a misfire on a road section, forcing him out of contention.

The M-Sport ace will be hoping to return today (Saturday).
"Things were looking pretty good," Evans reflected. "We were keeping no more than a few seconds adrift of the lead in challenging conditions - and we were looking forward to keeping the pressure on this afternoon but unfortunately we never got that chance.

"We're aiming to re-join today, when the plan will be to push hard and really enjoy the amazing Mid Wales stages - proper drivers' roads - and I want to see as many Welsh flags out there lining the stages as possible."

Drivers are expected to arrive in Newtown at around 1pm.

Following Thursday night's short, sharp blast through the Visit Conwy Tir Prince curtain-raiser, the FIA World Rally Championship crews renewed battle with a vengeance today, tackling eight speed tests totalling almost 70 competitive miles.

From the fast, smooth challenge of Clocaenog to the picture postcard Brenig, the bumps and jumps of Penmachno's 'Cresta Run' and the new, fan-friendly, multi-surface Slate Mountain test high up in Snowdonia, the action was fast-and-frantic right from the outset.

Car parks rapidly filled to capacity as spectators poured into the stages, with the new-generation, 380bhp, four-wheel-drive turbocharged World Rally Cars putting on an exhilarating show, kicking up gravel in their wake as flames fired from the exhausts.

The WRC's form man, Toyota's Ott Tänak, maintained his recent momentum as he set a blistering pace, winning five of the eight stages to hold a lead of just shy of half-a-minute going into tomorrow (Saturday), as the Estonian chases a fourth consecutive victory in his bid to close down the gap on World Championship leader Thierry Neuville.

Belgium's Neuville is embroiled in a fierce squabble for the runner-up spoils, with less than ten seconds blanketing his Hyundai, the Toyotas of Jari-Matti Latvala and Esapekka Lappi and the Ford of defending World Champion Sébastien Ogier - setting the scene for a no-holds-barred Saturday scrap.