Monte Carlo Rally: Elfyn Evans is second while John Armstrong drops to sixth

Elfyn Evans is second in the Monte Carlo Rally after Friday’s thrilling WRC, while John Armstrong drops to sixth.

Welshman Evans is one minute and eight seconds behind his Toyota teammate Oliver Solberg, who continued his impressive performance in the French Alps.

Defending champion Sébastien Ogier, who beat Evans for the title last year, is now just 6.5 seconds behind his Toyota teammate after winning the final two stages of the day.

“We lost a lot of ground to Seb, who did a fantastic job, so Saturday is close and exciting,” said the 36-year-old Evans.

“With more difficult conditions, it looks like it will be a classic until the end.”

Hyundai duo Adrien Fourmeaux and Thierry Neuville occupy fourth and fifth places, a long way behind Northern Irishman Armstrong, who dropped to sixth after an impressive opening day.

The M-Sport driver, who was third after the first two stages, lost three minutes to change a tire after going into a hole at high speed.

“Given the problems we had, it wasn’t an easy day, but that’s Monty,” the 31-year-old Armstrong said.

M-Sport and Motorsport Ireland team-mate Josh McErlane was involved in his second accident of the week after sliding off the road and getting stuck in a snowbank on Friday’s final stage.

The 26-year-old was one of several drivers stuck in an icy corner on the second stage on Thursday evening, when his Ford Puma Rally1 got stuck in a ditch.

The season-opening event continues on Saturday with four stages, and will be followed by four more stages on Sunday.

Monte Carlo Rally standings (9/17 stages)

1. Oliver Solberg, captain of Sweden (Toyota).

2. Elfyn Evans GB (Toyota) +1m08.4s

3. Sébastien Ogier FRA (Toyota) +1m 14.9sec

4. Adrien Formo FRA (Hyundai) +5m05.2s

5. Thierry Neuville Bell (Hyundai) +6m05.3s

6. John Armstrong (Ford) +7 minutes and 18.8 seconds

RET Josh McErlane IRL (Ford)