ELFYN Evans could take many positives after he hit back from experiencing engine problems to win three stages and claim a top 10 position in the DMACK M-Sport Ford Fiesta on Rally Mexico.

After incurring a five minute penalty for an engine change on Thursday evening, the Welsh ace and co-driver Daniel Barritt were playing catch-up from the start.

Yet, despite starting the rally in last position, and having to contend with the worst of the road cleaning through the longest day of competition, the crew climbed safely back up into a top-10 position.

Securing three stage victories on his way to ninth position overall, Evans has gained a wealth of knowledge, which he hopes will pay dividends on the next World Rally gravel outing in Argentina.

“It’s been a tricky weekend, with the penalty and then having to run first on the road, but overall I think we can be pretty happy,” said Evans.

“This was our first time on gravel with these new cars and we’ve completed all of the mileage with good speed, and we have achieved three stage victories.

“It could have been a lot worse, and we’ve collected a lot of good knowledge, which bodes well for the next outing.”

Evans’ rally got off to the worst possible start on Wednesday. After pre-event shakedown, the engine in his M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC expired, and had to be changed - and he was handed a five-minute time penalty and dropped to last place before the rally had even started.

Rally Mexico kicked off with a day trip to Mexico City’s Zocalo Square for two spectator-packed stages, and Evans set about clawing the time back. When the real competition started in the mountains above Leon on Friday, he finished second on three stages and scored his first gravel stage win of the season - despite an overheating engine slowing his charge.

Adding two more stage victories on Saturday, Evans and Barritt miraculously climbed to ninth after three full days of action across the high-altitude roads.

Meanwhile Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke survived astonishing late drama to clinch his fourth win in a WRC event.

Leading by 37.2 seconds heading into the last stage, the Briton slid into a car park with under one kilometre left and he was just inches away from a collision.

Citroen driver Meeke, 37, had to weave his way around other parked cars before he managed to get back to the road.

Defending champion Sebastien Ogier, in a Ford Fiesta WRC, was second, and Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville took third.

Overall classification: 1. Kris Meeke / Paul Nagle (Citroen C3 WRC) 3:22:04.6; 2. Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia (Ford Fiesta WRC) +13.8; 3. Thierry Neuville / Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai 120 Coupe WRC) +59.7; 4. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Ford Fiesta WRC) +2:18.3; 5. Hayden Paddon / John Kennard (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) +3:32.9; 6. Jari-Matti Latvala / Miikka Anttila (Toyota Yaris WRC) +4:40.3; 7. Juho Hänninen / Kaj Lindström (Toyota Yaris WRC) +5:06.2; 8. Dani Sordo / Marc Marti (Hyundai 120 Coupe WRC) +5:22.7; 9. Elfyn Evans / Daniel Barritt (Ford Fiesta WRC) +6:32.7 +8:41.8; 10. Pontus Tidemand / Jonas Andersson (Skoda Fabia R5) +10:51.9.