ELFYN Evans and co-driver Craig Parry had to accept second place in the WRC2 category of Rally Poland after their M-Sport World Rally Team Ford Fiesta R5 Evo picked up a puncture on day three.

Leading the WRC2 standings within the FIA World Championship, the pairing were looking to strengthen their hold on the support series with another win.

On the opening day, they were rarely out of the top-three on individual stage times, having delivered a highly consistent performance, and were planning to continue that trend in the days to come.

On day two, Evans chanelled the success of the Welsh football team to secure three out of a possible three stage victories through the morning’s speed tests.

The afternoon didn’t pan out quite as well, but the pairing secured what looked well set for second podium in as many weekends, after their win in Scotland.

On day three, they set a stunning time through the first pass of Baranowo (SS19) - 8.7 seconds quicker than Esapekka Lappi and 16.2 seconds up on Teemu Suninen. Feeling confident behind the wheel of his Ford Fiesta R5 Evo, Evans was on a mission, determined to reel in his rivals.

Unfortunately, however, the penultimate stage bit back at the M-Sport driver.

Picking up a puncture, Evans lost 46 seconds to the WRC2 leaders, and was eventually forced to accept second place.

Teemu Suinen took the class victory, and 10th place overall, with Esapekka Lappi losing the lead after getting a puncture in the same stage as Tanak. Lappi dropped to third, with Elfyn Evans second.

Despite being denied the chance of challenging for the victory, Evans, from Dinas Mawddwy,has racked up two podium finishes in as many weeks, and he continues to lead the WRC 2 standings.

“If I’d been offered second place earlier in the week, I would have taken it, but I half feel that a win on Rally Poland should have been on the cards,” said Evans.

“Second is better than nothing on a weekend like this, and we are still leading the championship, which is really important. We’ll just have to work harder and stronger to be on the top step in Finland.”

M-Sport Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “Elfyn set a stunning time through the first stage of the day and was determined to give it a shot. Unfortunately, he picked up a puncture on the penultimate stage, but he leaves here in the lead of the championship, and he’ll be hungry to build on that in Finland.”

Rally Poland marked the midpoint of the 14-round campaign, and the second half begins with Neste Rally Finland which is based in Jyväskylä on 28-31 July.