Evans second in Monte Carlo as McErlean completes WRC debut

Elfyn Evans from Wales placed second in Monte Carlo’s opening round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) season.

Toyota driver Evans and co-driver Scott Martin finished 18.5 seconds behind winner and team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who won the rally for a record-extending 10th time, and co-driver Vincent Landais.

Evans, 36, fought back from French driver Adrien Fourmaux, who despite a scare on the final stage as he ran wide on ice and slipped a bank in front of him, to claim the podium spot for Hyundai.

It is a strong start to the season for Evans, who is a four-time runner-up in the championship, as Toyota team-mate Ogier is only set to run a part-time season.

After edging out Ott Tanak of Hyundai in the 18th and final stage, reigning champion Thierry Neuville struggled to finish in sixth place after two crashes in his Hyundai.

In his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally 1, Northern Irish driver Josh McErlean placed seventh on his debut in the top tier of the WRC.

It was an incident-free weekend from McErlean, 25, and navigator Eoin Treacy, whose pace improved throughout the weekend on one of the WRC’s most difficult rallies.

Sunday’s morning final three stages claimed three casualties as the Toyota pair of Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta, and McErlean’s M-Sport team-mate Gregoire Munster, all crashed out.

The second round of the WRC season takes place on the snow-covered roads in Sweden from 13-16 February.

Rallye Monte Carlo results

1. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota)

2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota)

3. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai)

4. Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota)

5. Ott Tanak (Hyundai)

6. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai)