Elfyn increases championship lead with Paraguay podium

Welsh star stays at top of the table after second-place finish.

Elfyn extended his lead at the top of the FIA World Rally Championship as Toyota Gazoo Racing recorded another 1-2 finish in a challenging first running of Rally del Paraguay.

The Welshman’s second place behind team-mate Sebastien Ogier increased his championship advantage from three to seven points. 

Despite winning the rally, Ogier was hampered by his Wolf Power Stage time loss in heavy rain and only collected one point from the final-day Super Sunday stages leaving him in third in the title race.

Drivers struggled with a combination of low grip and sharp bumps throughout the event and it was a difficult first day for Elfyn, with poor road position contributing to him ending the day in fifth. 

Overnight tweaks to his setup and some impressive, precise driving kick-started Elfyn’s rise up the rankings on Saturday. Keeping clear of trouble, he ended the day in third.

He continued his progress on the Sunday and with Adrian Fourmaux losing significant time on the final stage Elfyn moved up to record a valuable second-placed finish. 

The drivers now move on to Rally Chile on September 11 for the second leg of the South American double header.