Evans clings to WRC lead as Tanak wins in Greece

6 hours ago 2

Elfyn Evans' lead in the World Rally Championship is down to single figures after the Acropolis Rally Greece was won by Ott Tanak.

The Hyundai driver's victory is the first time this year Toyota have failed to win a rally, with Sebastien Ogier second and Evans fourth in the punishing heat.

Eight-time world champion Ogier is nine points behind GR Yaris Rally 1 team-mate Evans, with Estonian Tanak a further three back.

With the rally moved from September to its more traditional date in June, ambient temperatures pushed past 40 degrees and cockpit heat was even higher.

Among the casualties of the baked gravel roads was another Toyota driver Kalle Rovanpera, who finished outside the top 10.

"It's been a tough weekend, didn't really have the pace we wanted," said 36-year-old Evans.

"We had to get to the end to get something, so could be worse."

Welshman Evans had built up an unprecedented 36-point lead after the first three rallies of the year, placing second behind Ogier in Monte Carlo before winning in Sweden and Kenya.

His French team-mate has now won four of this season's seven events and collected 10 bonus points in Greece, winning both Super Sunday and the powerstage, but the 41-year-old will skip the next round on the high-speed forest roads of Estonia.

"I think we've had a super strong weekend," Ogier said.

"There wasn't much we could do to Ott – he was really flying."

Ireland's Josh McErlean was another beset by struggles, suffering a puncture on Friday and damaging his suspension and breaking a driveshaft on Saturday.

He finished 12th in his M-Sport Ford Puma.

"It took sheer determination from the team, because every service there was some job," said McErlean.

"Hopefully it gets a bit easier from here in Estonia and Finland."

England's Gus Greensmith was one of several WRC2 drivers who claimed top-10 finishes.

Round eight of the 14-event WRC series, Delfi Rally Estonia, runs from 17-20 July.

1. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 4 hours 12 minutes 20.1 seconds

2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +32.8secs

3. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, +3min 9.8secs

4. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +3min 31.1secs

5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +6min 9.5secs

6. Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Toyota, +10min 34.7secs

Selected