WRC race on knife-edge as Evans trails Ogier in Saudi

Elfyn Evans has conceded significant time to rival Sebastien Ogier over the first four stages of Rally Saudi Arabia but their World Rally Championship (WRC) title race remains in the balance.

Latvia's Martins Sesks leads the rally, 24.6 seconds ahead of the Frenchman who is seventh after the early Thursday morning sweep. Evans is a further 22.7 seconds back in eighth place.

The 36-year-old Welshman started the final round of the 14-rally series just three points ahead of Toyota team-mate Ogier.

If the pair were to finish in their current positions the 41-year-old Frenchman would pick up six points and Evans four. There are also two sets of up to five bonus points available over Saturday's final three stages which would then decide the final championship outcome.

Kalle Rovanpera, a third Toyota driver who could also win the championship with a 24-point turnaround, is lying tenth before the remaining four stages on Thursday.

Friday will see the drivers compete over a further six stages before the final trio on Saturday.

Evans lost 12.8s to Ogier on Thursday's opening stage two and then made what he called a "silly mistake" on stage four, turning too early for a junction and having to reverse.

Rovanpera's outside hopes look to be receding after the Finn picked up a puncture on stage four.

Ireland's Josh McErlean is 20th, the Ford M-Sport driver losing over two minutes on stage two after stopping to change a tire which was debeaded by a rut at a junction.

Meanwhile Friday's two Wadi Almatwi stages have been shortened at the request of the drivers.

The test, scheduled to run as stages 11 and 14 of the rally, was due to be 28.59km in length, but the finish will now be after 24.9km, avoiding a section the drivers felt was too dangerous.

1. Martin Sesks (Latvia), Ford, 39 minutes 40.6 seconds

2. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, +1.3secs

3. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, +1.7secs

4. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +14.8secs

5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +17.8secs

6. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +19.5secs

7. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +27.6secs

8. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +50.3secs

9. Nasser Al-Attiya, (Qatar), Ford, +51.4secs

10. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, +1min 8.0secs

Selected

13. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, +1min 46.9secs

19. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +3min 2.6secs

1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 272 points

2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 269

3. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 248

4. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 213

5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 166

6. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 111

Selected

11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 26

14. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 14