Thierry Neuville edges out Elfyn Evans in Argentina

30 April 2017 09:54

Thierry Neuville denied Britain's Elfyn Evans his first World Rally Championship win in a dramatic finish to the Rally Argentina.

Evans held a slender lead heading into the final stage but the Welshman clipped a bridge and allowed Neuville to claim a second successive victory by 0.7 seconds, one of the smallest margins in championship history.

Hyundai driver Neuville was 11.5secs behind Evans' Ford Fiesta after day three but he took advantage of the Brit's brake problems to reduce the gap to 0.6secs before stealing the win.

"I'm gutted to lose by such a fine margin after so many issues," Evans told wrc.com.

"I hit a bridge and that was probably the difference.

"It's difficult to take now after holding such a big lead, but part of it is my own doing and I need to come back stronger to win in the future."

Ott Tanak completed the podium - finishing 29.2secs back - with four-time world champion and championship leader Sebastien Ogier in fourth to make it three Ford Fiesta drivers in the top four.

The Frenchman leads the standings with 102 points, 16 clear of Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota Yaris) - who finished fifth in Argentina - and 18 ahead of Neuville.

Source: PA