Elfyn Evans maintains title bid in Rally Mexico

After a podium on his debut for the Toyota Gazoo World Rally Team in Monte Carlo and then a historic win in Sweden, the on-form Welshman Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin led the title race after the opening two rounds.

The rally was bought forward to Saturday evening, a decision taken in the face of fast-changing travel restrictions resulting from the global COVID-19 virus pandemic to ensure safe and timely travel home for officials, competitors and teams.

However, as championship leader, Evans was first onto the loose gravel Mexican tracks on Friday acting as a road-sweeper thus giving cars running behind him the considerable advantage of a cleaner, less slippery and faster surface.

Despite facing these additional challenges, Elfyn strove manfully to limit the damage, finally finishing in a strong fourth place overall, a result rewarded with valuable points that could be vital come the end of the season.

Indeed, with teammate Sebastien Ogier winning the event for the sixth time in eight years and Evans finishing fourth, Toyota has extended its lead in the Manufacturers' Championship. Ogier also now tops the points table, with 31-year old Dolgellau driver in a solid second place.

With next month's Rally Argentina having been postponed due to measures regarding the COVID-19 virus, the next event on the WRC schedule is Rally de Portugal on 21 to 24 May. Plans for this year's Wales Rally GB (29 October 2020 to 1 November 2020) are well advanced. The event will return to its familiar base in Deeside, close to Chester, and the full competitive route, largely set in the legendary forests of mid and north Wales, will be announced in May.