Saturday WRC
Academy wrap:
Evans nets
maiden win

Evans, one of 11 rising talents competing in identical M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta R2s on Pirelli control tyres, moved in front on Friday’s first stage and gradually extended his advantage alongside new co-driver Phil Pugh.

At the finish in Loutraki, the British pairing were more than two minutes clear of countrymen Alastair Fisher and Daniel Barritt, who continue to head the overall standings despite a roll on the final morning leaving their Fiesta with a badly damaged windscreen, which restricted their visibility.

Australian Brendan Reeves took third with Briton John MacCrone a season-best fourth overall following a close battle with Spain’s Jose Suarez. Pontus Tidemand was on course for third until driveshaft failure forced the Swede’s retirement with two stages left to run.

“This is the roughest rally I’ve ever done and it’s great to be here at the finish,” said Briton Evans, who earned seven bonus points for his tally of stage wins. “After the problems I had in Portugal it was important to get as many points as possible for stage wins but at the same time you have to look at the overall picture of the rally as well, which is why we didn’t push in the last two.”

Fredrik Ahlin’s troubled Acropolis Rally ended when the Swede rolled on stage 11. Ashley Haigh-Smith, from South Africa, retired with a broken driveshaft on the same run, while damage to the fuel tank of his Fiesta led to Portugal’s Joao Silva’s exit on stage 12.

American Chris Duplessis scored WRC Academy points for the first time in sixth with Timo van der Marel battling back to seventh following his retirement on stage four.

The WRC Academy season resumes on Neste Oil Rally Finland in early August.