Elfyn Evans alone in the world in Argentina

Author flawless during the morning in today's specials in Argentina, Elfyn Evans (Ford) almost achieved a Grand Slam this Friday in South America.

Best time in SS6 and 7, tied with the Hyundai i20 of Hayden Paddon in the seventh sector, Evans only saw his streak interrupted in special stage no. 8, where Hayden Paddon achieved his first scratch of the event.

The winner of the 2016 edition thus made up for the start of the stage spoiled by a slow roll, but which had slowed him down before returning to the service park in the middle of the day, notably with suspension problems.

Evans and the others

Helped by a rather favorable road position, and effective Dmack tyres, Elfyn Evans regularly widened the gap this Friday over Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota), then on Mads Ostberg (Ford), who became his closest pursuer over the course of the stage. The Norwegian is 55″7 behind Evans after the Parque Tematico super special.

Third place is held by the Hyundai i20 from Thierry Neuville, clocked at 1'00″7. The Belgian is in a fight with the Ford drivers – M-Sport Sébastien Ogier, victim of contact with a rock after a crest in SS8, resulting in twisted steering on his Fiesta, and Ott Tänak, victim of a puncture in SS8.

The residents of Malcolm Wilson's stable are ranked 1'06"7 and 1'11"3 behind Evans, and are ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala, second for a long time this Friday, and who experienced problems with engine overheating, and a puncture in the second passage between Santa Rosa and San Agustin, causing him to lose more than 23″ in SS6 and 30″ in SS8 respectively.

Enough to drop the Finn into sixth position, 1'29"9 behind Evans, and 18"6 behind Ott Tänak. Hayden Paddon, Lorenzo Bertelli (Ford), Juho Hänninen (Toyota) and Pontus Tidemand (Skoda), leader in WRC-2, remain ranked in the top 10 before the closing super-special of this first Argentinian day.

After his steering problems, Dani Sordo (Hyundai) is classified outside the top 10 at more than 12′. The Citroën C3 of Craig Breen and Kris Meeke, forced to abandon earlier in the day, could start again tomorrow in Rally2.

Tomorrow, the second stage of Rally of Argentina will begin at 13:08 p.m. French time, with the 20,8 km of the SS10 Tanti – Villa Bustos, and will be followed live with commentary on our website.

Rally Argentina ranking