What an exhilarating weekend! Elfyn Evans proved his mettle by grabbing the top spot at the Secto Rally Finland on Sunday. This fantastic win keeps his dreams alive of possibly clinching this year’s FIA World Rally Championship title.
After an unfortunate mishap for Kalle Rovanperä on Friday, the way was paved for Evans to claim the lead. And he did just that, dazzling everyone with an impressive seven consecutive stage victories on Saturday. This performance left Thierry Neuville, his nearest rival, trying to play catch-up.
By Sunday, Evans extended his lead further, racing ahead to win by a substantial 39.1 seconds in the sleek Toyota GR Yaris. He also secured maximum points in the closing Wolf Power Stage. Thanks to this spectacular performance, Evans is now much closer in points to Rovanperä. “It’s been an unforgettable weekend,” shared a cheerful Evans. “It’s unfortunate to see Kalle bow out early, but driving this car has been an absolute dream! The overwhelming support has truly been heartwarming. We’re inching closer in the championship race too.”
An interesting tidbit: Evans’ Toyota Gazoo Racing team is based close to the host city of Jyväskylä. And with this win, they’ve increased their lead over Hyundai Motorsport in the manufacturers’ championship.
[rl_gallery id=”19474″]The weekend was packed with thrills and spills on some of the world’s fastest roads. Ott Tänak and Esapekka Lappi faced a few hitches along the way. Despite giving it his all, Neuville couldn’t match up to the blazing pace set by Evans.
Another highlight was Takamoto Katsuta, of the Toyota team, who secured his position after a fierce duel with Hyundai’s Teemu Suninen. This marked his fourth podium finish.
It was also heartwarming to see Jari-Matti Latvala return to top-level competition after a three-year hiatus. He showcased consistent performance, securing a commendable fifth place.
Young talents like Oliver Solberg left a mark too, clinching the sixth spot. Sami Pajari and Adrien Fourmaux, the WRC2 stars, were not far behind. Nikolay Gryazin and Andreas Mikkelsen wrapped up the top 10 spots.
The excitement isn’t over yet! Next month, the action continues with the legendary EKO Acropolis Rally Greece from 7 – 10 September. Don’t miss it!
