By Gareth James
Elfyn Evans is heading for his second podium of the season – and aims to be on the top step at Rally Croatia on Sunday.
The Dolgellau-born ace goes into Sunday’s final four stages lying in second place in a three-man battle for the top step.
Evans is just 6.9 secs adrift of Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Sebastien Ogier who grabbed the lead by adding three more special stage wins on Saturday.
A great morning for the team at #CroatiaRally with @SebOgier and @ElfynEvans moving to the top of the leaderboard. Here's what they had to say over lunch in Zagreb. 🗣️#ToyotaGAZOORacing #PushingTheLimitsForBetter #YarisWRC #WRC pic.twitter.com/3LfugyXERT
— TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) April 24, 2021
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville is third – just 3.5 secs adrift of Evans – having seen the Welsh rally ace also leapfrog over him after he had led on Friday.
“We’re there or there abouts,” said Evans, who was second behind Ogier in the season opener in Monte Carlo and fifth last time out in Finland. “The target is of course to win.”
Estonia’s Ott Tanak is fourth but 37.8 secs adrift of reigning champion Ogier and needing a shock setback to the top three to surely get on the podium.
Evans added to his stage victory on Friday with another fastest time on Saturday as Croatia makes its debut on the WRC calendar.
But it was his consistency over the eight stages that saw him take second overall from Belgium’s Neuville.