Cruel blow for Evans after stunning drive in Tour de Corse.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin were denied a well-deserved victory at this weekend’s Tour de Corse – picking up a puncture through the final stage and having to settle for third place overall.
The British pairing were the ones to beat this weekend and showed true class behind the wheel of their EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC. Displaying all the characteristics of a deserving winner, Evans had the speed and the determination; but was just missing a little bit of luck through the final kilometres.
Having lost time on yesterday’s closing stage he and Martin had fallen 4.5 seconds behind eventual winner Thierry Neuville. But the pairing started the day in a positive frame of mind – confident in the knowledge that they had the better of their rival throughout the weekend.
Starting as he meant to go on, Evans set a sensational time through the opening speed test – 8.8 seconds quicker than anyone else and a full 16 seconds quicker than Neuville. The Belgian had no hope of matching the Welshman on speed alone, but fate played a hand through the final stage.
Picking up a puncture on the line, it was heart-breaking to watch the time slip away – relegating Evans to third place. But despite the disappointment, the team remain extremely proud and will take consolation from the rally-winning pace displayed here in Corsica.