RALLY ace Elfyn Evans salvaged sixth place from last weekend’s Wales Rally GB as his M-Sport World Rally Team’s home event dished out its fair share of misfortune.

As torrential rain and gale force winds battered the stages, Evans and co-driver Daniel Barritt got the Welsh fixture off to a solid start.

Best of the rest behind the leading pack, the pairing were making ground despite their limited experience.

Unfortunately, a puncture put paid to a push for the top positions – the Ford Fies­ta RS WRC crew losing almost a minute and a half through the second pass of Haf­ren, which dropped them to an undeserving ninth place.

Regrouping, the local hero displayed an improvement in pace and stormed up the standings. Setting the fastest time through the second split of SS10, Evans also proved how formidable he can be when the going gets tough – setting the second fastest time through the night pass of Aberhirnant.

Read Elfyn’s thoughts on the Wales Rally in this week’s Cambrian News or read the digital edition by clicking the tab at the top of the page