Elfyn Evans, navigated by codriver Scott Martin, stormed to victory at Secto Rally Finland on Sunday afternoon to keep alive his hopes of a maiden FIA World Rally Championship title.

He stamped his authority on the fastest round of the series by grabbing the lead on Saturday morning. He survived intense pressure to claim a fifth WRC event victory in a Toyota Yaris by 14.1sec, becoming only the second Briton to win the iconic fixture.

Victory enabled Evans to cut team-mate Sébastien Ogier’s championship lead to 24 points with two rounds remaining. Ogier finished fifth.

Hyundai i20 team-mates Ott Tänak and Craig Breen, who both led the three-day rally in the opening leg, finished second and third. Two-time winner Tänak ended 28.1sec clear of the Irishman.

Evans won the Wolf Power Stage to claim five bonus points. Tänak scored four points in second with Esapekka Lappi taking three in third in another Yaris. Takamoto Katsuta secured two points in fourth in a Yaris with Breen netting the final point in fifth.

In FIA WRC2, Teemu Suninen and Mikko Markkula claimed the class win on their Volkswagen Polo GTI Rally debut with Movisport! They took maximum points in the Wolf Power Stage to end the rally in style.

More news to follow.