The Latest Breaking News from Evans

Neuville had closed to within 10.5s of Evans and looked set to offer the Toyota driver stern challenge for victory before his rally unravelled on stage six (Inabu Dam, 19.38km).

Evans completed the day’s six stages with a 1m49.9s advantage over eight-time world champion Ogier, who incurred a one-minute penalty before the last stage of the day. The Frenchman checked out of the final service six minutes late following a repair to the door of his GR Yaris which was…

Evans puts his Toyota GR Yaris into a 26.0s lead over Neuville after winning the morning’s two stages held in extreme wet conditions, but the Welshman came under pressure from Neuville in the afternoon.

Neuville had closed to within 10.5s of Evans heading into stage six but his rally came to a premature halt 100 metres into the stage.

Neuville had closed to within 10.5s of Evans heading into stage six but his rally came to a premature halt 100 metres into the stage.

The Toyota driver emerged as the class of the field in arguably the most challenging and dangerous conditions the crews have experienced this season.

Toyota driver Rovanpera will secure a second World Rally Championship title this weekend if he outscores team-mate Evans, which seems increasingly likely after the latter crashed out on stage 11.

The Toyota driver will secure a second World Rally Championship title this weekend if he outscores team-mate Evans, which seems increasingly likely after the latter crashed out on stage 11.

Rovanpera only needs to outscore his Toyota rival to successfully defend his crown, which seems highly likely after Evans ran off the road on stage 11 while sitting in third position.

The Jaguar driver topped the timesheets at the end of the four-and-a-half-hour session with a 1m24.791s, leaving him just 0.023s clear of Porsche's Antonio Felix da Costa.

The Jaguar driver topped the timesheets at the end of the four-and-a-half-hour session with a 1m24.791s, leaving him just 0.023s clear of Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa.