Evans storms back into Monte WRC 2 lead
Welshman dominates support category in season opener
Evans under no pressure in WRC 2 lead
Elfyn Evans led WRC 2 by more than two minutes after Saturday's penultimate leg of Rallye Monte-Carlo following a controlled drive through the longest leg of the rally.
The Welshman's overnight lead evaporated in the opening test when he stopped to change a puncture in his Ford Fiesta RS, handing the advantage to Armin Kremer.
Evans regained the initiative in the next test and despite not winning any stages, consistent top three times enabled him to build a 2min 11.9sec advantage over the German.
Kremer survived two spins before dropping almost a minute with a puncture and reached the overnight halt in Monaco 15.0sec clear of Quentin Gilbert in a DS 3 R5. Gilbert also punctured in the opening stage and emerged from the final test with worries over a rising water temperature.
Quentin Giordano was fourth ahead of Yoann Bonato, whose hopes of a podium ended in the penultimate test when he dropped more than 10 minutes in a slow-speed off.
Jose Suarez completed the top six in a Peugeot 208 after a mixed day. He required spectator help after going off the road in the opening test and also punctured, but twice topped the time sheets with pace strong enough to put him in the top six overall.
Julien Maurin retired his Skoda Fabia from third with an engine fire.
Head to WRC+ to see the latest onboard and video reports from Rallye Monte-Carlo.
