Elfyn Evans saw his lead in the World Rally Championship reduced after finishing fourth in Sardinia.
The 31-year-old knew winning would be difficult after the opening day when he was first on the road.
But he was happy to come away with fourth spot as his lead over Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Sebastien Ogier was cut from 18 to 14 points.
“We come away from the weekend as best as we could really,” said the Dolgellau ace.
“We were put out of the fight on Friday and it didn’t make sense to take big risks to try and be faster but probably end up in the same position at the finish.
“So not our strongest performance but a solid weekend.”
Evans, in theory, has two rounds left to protect his advantage though there are doubts over next month’s Ypres Rally Belgium going ahead due to COVID-19.
That would leave just Monza in December for the title to be decided after that rally was added to the calendar on the eve of the event in Sardinia.
SS16 Sassari – Argentiera 2 (Power Stage – 6.89 km): @SebOgier and Julien finish 3rd overall on #RallyItaly in a very close finish! 🥉🏆@ElfynEvans and @scottmartinat take 4th, with Elfyn now leading the drivers' standings by 14 points ahead of Seb! #Toyota #YarisWRC #WRC pic.twitter.com/GeyPEFyWm7
— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) October 11, 2020
Evans finished one minute 02.3 secs behind Spain’s Dani Sordo who took victory in the event for the second year running.
Sordo held off the challenge on the final day of Belgium’s Thierry Neuville, who was 5.1 secs down – but crucially one sec ahead of Ogier.
Ogier was second at one stage but slipping to third cost him three vital points in his title battle with Evans.