Wales’ Elfyn Evans has finished in second place at the opening round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) season in Monte Carlo.
Toyota driver Evans and co-driver Scott Martin finished 18.5 seconds behind winner and team-mate Sebastien Ogier, who won the rally for a record-extending 10th time, and co-driver Vincent Landais.
Evans, 36, held off a charge from French driver Adrien Fourmaux, who claimed the final podium spot for Hyundai despite a scare on the final stage as he ran wide on ice and slipped a bank
It is a strong start to the season for Evans, who is a four-time runner-up in the championship, as Toyota team-mate Ogier is only set to run a part-time season.
Two-time champion Kalle Rovanpera was fourth in his Toyota after overhauling Hyundai’s Ott Tanak on the 18th and final stage, while reigning champion Thierry Neuville struggled to sixth after two crashes in his Hyundai.
Josh McErlean, from Northern Ireland, finished a solid seventh on his debut in the top tier of the WRC in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally 1.
It was an incident-free weekend from McErlean, 25, and navigator Eoin Treacy, whose pace improved throughout the weekend on one of the WRC’s most difficult rallies.
Sunday’s morning final three stages claimed three casualties as the Toyota pair of Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta, and McErlean’s M-Sport team-mate Gregoire Munster, all crashed out.
The second round of the WRC season takes place on the snow-covered roads in Sweden from 13-16 February.
Rallye Monte Carlo results
1. Sebastien Ogier (Toyota)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota)
3. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai)
4. Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota)
5. Ott Tanak (Hyundai)
6. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai)
7. Josh McErlean (M-Sport Ford)
