McErlean fifth at Rally Greece as Evans charge stalls
Elfyn Evans was challenging for fourth when he stopped to change a puncture on Saturday's final stage
- Published
Elfyn Evans' charge up the standings was hit by a puncture on Saturday's final stage at Rally Greece.
Evans, who leads the World Rally Championship standings with co-driver Scott Martin, was chasing Josh McErlean for fourth before he lost just under two minutes after he stopped to change a tyre.
The Wales driver drops to sixth as a result, behind Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari ahead of Sunday's final four stages.
Motorsport Ireland driver McErlean remains on track for his best finish in the World Rally Championship as he holds fifth place heading into the final day.
The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland lost fourth to the recovering Adrien Fourmaux on Saturday's final stage, but he remains only one second off the top four.
McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy's best finish is a trio of seventh places in their debut WRC season with M-Sport last year.
Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville and Toyota's Sebastien Ogier are in a thrilling battle for the win, and the Belgian leads by just 4.1 seconds heading into the final day.
Japan's Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston, who are Evans' nearest challengers at the top of the standings, are a lonely third.
"It came quite suddenly after an impact and we had to stop and change it," Evans said on his puncture.
"It’s dropped us right back to where we started the day so we’ve got it all to do again tomorrow, and of course the road position will not be any easier either, but we’ll fight for what we can."
After being forced to retire on Friday after a double puncture and turbo failure on his Ford Puma, which came just after his first stage win in the WRC, M-Sport driver Jon Armstrong is in 22nd place after he returned for Saturday's stages.
McErlean fourth in Rally Greece as Armstrong retires
- Published2 days ago
Josh McErlean remains on track for a best-ever finish in the WRC
Rally Greece (after stage 13/17)
1. Thierry Neuville/Martin Wydaeghe (Hyundai) 2:40:18.7
2. Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota) +4.1 seconds
3. Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota)+2:17.0
4. Adrien Fourmaux/Alex Coria (Hyundai) +3:00.6
5. Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (M-Sport Ford) +3:01.6
6. Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota) +4:38.3
7. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota) +4:43.1
....
21. Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmundson (Toyota) +14:25.4 (Super Rally)
22. Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (M-Sport Ford) +16:15.9 (Super Rally)
