Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin are four-time runners-up in the World Rally Championship 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 â 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 7. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, +11min 28.5secs 12. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +16min 46.1secs 1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 150 points 2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 141 3. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 138 4. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 117 5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 96 6. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 63 Selected 11. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 14 12 Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 12
Evans clings to WRC lead as Tanak wins in Greece
TruthLens AI Suggested Headline:
"Elfyn Evans Maintains WRC Lead Despite Ott Tanak's Victory in Greece"
Bbc News
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TruthLens AI Summary
Elfyn Evans, alongside co-driver Scott Martin, is experiencing a tightening grip on the lead of the World Rally Championship (WRC) following the recent Acropolis Rally in Greece. Ott Tanak of Hyundai claimed victory at the rally, marking the first time this season that Toyota has not secured a win. The intense heat during the rally, with temperatures surpassing 40 degrees Celsius, posed significant challenges for the drivers. Evans, who previously held a commanding 36-point lead after the initial three events of the season, finished fourth in Greece, while his teammate, Sebastien Ogier, managed to secure second place. Ogier's performance, which included winning both the Super Sunday and the powerstage, has narrowed the points gap between him and Evans, with Ogier now sitting nine points behind and Tanak trailing by an additional three points.
The rally's rescheduling from September to June brought about grueling conditions that affected many competitors. Kalle Rovanpera, another Toyota driver, struggled significantly and finished outside the top ten. Evans expressed his disappointment regarding the weekend's performance, stating, "It's been a tough weekend, didn't really have the pace we wanted," while acknowledging the necessity of finishing the race to salvage some points. The results of the Acropolis Rally have set the stage for the next round in Estonia, where drivers will tackle high-speed forest roads. The WRC series continues to be competitive, with Evans leading the championship standings at 150 points, followed closely by Ogier at 141 and Tanak at 138. As the series progresses, the pressure mounts on Evans to maintain his lead amidst a strong challenge from his rivals.
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