Elfyn Evans snatched the Rally Chile lead from Toyota World Rally Championship team-mate Sebastien Ogier after the Frenchman was forced to change a wheel on stage three.
Evans delivered strong pace throughout the morning’s gravel stages to head to midday service with a 2.2s lead over Toyota team-mate and reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera.
Toyota protege Sami Pajari climbed to third [+6.6s} after Ogier’s drama, while Gregoire Munster’s fast and clean driving placed the M-Sport-Ford in fourth [+6.9s].
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak was fifth [+7.3s] ahead of Adrien Fourmaux [+7.4s] with championship leader Thierry Neuville in seventh [+13.8s] and team-mate Esapekka Lappi eighth [18.3s]. The top 10 was completed by WRC2 runners Nikolay Gryazin and Oliver Solberg, who could wrap up the title this weekend.
Only three cars successfully navigated through the rally’s opening stage (Pulperia, 19.72km) before officials were forced to cancel the test on spectator safety grounds.
Of the three cars to complete the stage, it was Ogier that set a blistering pace starting third on the road behind Neuville and Tanak.
Ogier was 9.1s faster than Tanak, who was in turn 1.4s faster than Neuville.
“All good, good start,” said Ogier who continued to offer little in stage-end interviews following his suspended €30,000 fine for comments made in Greece.
Neuville faced the brunt of the road sweeping having been first to tackle the stage.
Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
“Really challenging, to be honest, the grip is basically zero. It is like driving on ice at the beginning. We know what our target is” said Neuville, who could also mathematically sew up the title in Chile.
Officials red-flagged the stage shortly after Ogier had reached the stage end meaning the rest of the field had to navigate through the test in road mode, with Neuville’s time given as a notional time. However, that is subject to being revised after the second pass of the stage this afternoon.
The crews managed to pass through stage two (Rere 13.34km) without interruption and it was Evans who managed to tame the tricky loose gravel the best.
The Welshman was 2.3s faster than team-mates Rovanpera and Rally1 rookie Pajari to move to second overall, 6.6s behind rally leader Ogier.
Ogier ensured it was Toyota lockout at the top of the timesheets in fourth, 3.9s slower than Evans. The eight-time world…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Motorsport.com – RALLY – Stories…