ELFYN Evans achieved the speed to challenge for another triumph on home soil at Wales Rally GB, but Welsh hearts were broken early on as hope was unfortunately scuppered.

The returning stars picked up an unfortunate puncture through the first pass of Penmachno, which cost them 43.3 seconds to the leading pack - yet seven fastest stage times later they finished the rally just 48.6 seconds adrift of the win.

It proved that Evans and co-driver Scott Martin, in the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC, had the ability to be challenging at the top of the leader-board.

Despite their weekend not going to according to plan, the crew still remained upbeat, after coming out on top in their final-day battle for fifth position overall. They have the speed and confidence to be challenging for top results when the FIA World Rally Championship goes to the final rounds in Spain and Australia.

“It’s been a pretty good weekend for us,” said 30 year-old Evans. “It would have been nice to have finished a bit higher up the leaderboard, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes, and there’s no room for ‘what ifs’ at this level - not with the competition as close as it is right now.

“Our pace has been good all weekend and the support absolutely incredible."There is nothing like rallying on home soil, and when you’re posting fastest times in front of all those Welsh flags, it’s a good feeling and gives us confidence.”

The Brits may have chosen the wrong set-up for the Oulton Park’s opening stage, but when the main competition hit the classic Welsh forests Evans, of Dinas Mawddwy, showed what he was really capable of, and he set the fastest time through the first stage of the morning.

Disaster stuck, however, when he ran wide on a fast right-hander - picking up a puncture and damaging the suspension through the first pass of Penmachno (SS3). The mistake cost him 43.3 seconds, but he was quick to showcase his mechanical skills - and quick on the next stage too as he set a joint fastest time.

Having to contend with the worst of the conditions through the afternoon loop, the Brits continued to hold their own, but struggled against those running earlier on the road - especially in the penultimate stage (SS9) as Evans and Martin were hampered by the fading light.

Despite this, a second fastest time through the final, full-night stage of the day showed their confidence in each other’s ability - as well as in Martin’s notes.

“It was frustrating losing all that time, then having a stage cancelled in the afternoon and running into darkness in Dyfnant - after guys at the front had gone through in the daylight,” said Evans.

Evans then produced stage-winning performances in the second day of competition, to the delight of the big crowds. Posting the fastest times through all of the morning’s three stages, he expertly demonstrated what might have been.

2019 WALES RALLY FINAL RESULT

1. Ott Tänak/Martin Jarveoja – Toyota Yaris WRC 3h 00m 58sec

2. Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul – Hyundai i20 WRC +10.9sec

3. Sebastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia – Citroen C3 WRC +23.8sec

4. Kris Meeke/Seb Marshall – Toyota Yaris WRC +35.6sec

5. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin – Ford Fiesta WRC +48.6sec

6. Andreas Mikkelsen/Anders Jaeger – Hyundai i20 WRC +58.2sec

7. Pontus Tidemand/Ola Floene – Ford Fiesta WRC +5m.23.8sec

8. Craig Breen/Paul Nagle – Hyundai i20 WRC +9m.25.0sec

9. Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen – Skoda Fabia R5 +10m.51.1sec

10. Petter Solberg/Phil Mills – Volkswagen Polo R5 +11m.36.1sec