Elfyn Evans has emerged victorious from an exhilarating Rally Sweden, battling by means of difficult situations and a fierce problem from teammate Takamoto Katsuta to safe his tenth profession WRC win. This tough-fought victory propels Evans to the highest of the FIA World Rally Championship standings, marking a dominant begin to his 2024 marketing campaign.
The rally was a nail-biting affair, with Evans and Katsuta buying and selling blows all through the 4 days of intense competitors on the frozen levels close to Umeå. Evans began Sunday with a slim 3.0-second lead, however Katsuta got here out swinging, taking the lead with a commanding stage win on the opening run of Västervik. Nonetheless, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin responded rapidly, reclaiming the lead with a blistering time on the repeated run. They then sealed the take care of a dominant efficiency on the rally-ending Wolf Energy Stage, in the end profitable by a mere 3.8 seconds.
“It’s been an excellent weekend, however I made life very tough for myself on that first stage this morning,” Evans admitted. “No less than it targeted the thoughts. We had a superb run over the past couple of levels and clearly we’re very pleased with the top consequence.”
For Katsuta, second place represents one other sturdy exhibiting, as he held off a charging Thierry Neuville to safe his place. Neuville, the reigning champion, fought arduous for the ultimate podium spot, ending 11.9 seconds behind Evans and simply 4.9 seconds forward of his Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak. Tänak, who struggled with engine mapping points on Saturday, confirmed his true tempo on Sunday, setting aggressive stage occasions and ending simply off the rostrum.
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä had a weekend to neglect. Struggling to search out his rhythm, he might solely handle fifth place, trailing Tänak by 16.0 seconds. It was a irritating rally for the Toyota star, who shall be trying to bounce again on the subsequent occasion.
Mārtiņš Sesks delivered a stable efficiency on his return to the WRC, ending sixth and main the M-Sport Ford cost. He completed comfortably forward of Toyota’s Sami Pajari, whereas Josh McErlean, who had been working eighth, dropped down the order after getting caught in a snowbank. Grégoire Munster inherited eighth place from his teammate, whereas WRC2 opponents Oliver Solberg and Roope Korhonen rounded out the highest ten.
With this victory, Evans takes a commanding lead within the drivers’ championship standings, holding a 28-point benefit after simply two rounds. His sturdy begin to the season, with a second-place end at Rallye Monte-Carlo adopted by this win in Sweden, positions him as a severe contender for the title.
The FIA World Rally Championship now heads to Africa for the legendary Safari Rally Kenya, the third spherical of the championship, from March 20-23. The dramatic shift from the ice and snow of Sweden to the difficult terrain of Kenya will present a really totally different check for the drivers and their groups.
Abstract:
- Elfyn Evans wins Rally Sweden
- Takamoto Katsuta finishes second
- Thierry Neuville secures third place
- Evans takes the championship lead
- The WRC now heads to Safari Rally Kenya
Disclaimer: This info relies on stories obtainable on the time of writing. Rally outcomes are provisional and topic to alter. For the most recent updates and official standings, please consult with the official WRC web site.
Supply: WRC
This text was crafted with help from Gemini
