The World Rally Championship leader picked up a puncture early on the Wadi Almatwi test. Co-driver Scott Martin informed Evans in the middle of the pacenotes that there was a slow puncture on the rear-left tyre. Soon after, the pair stopped to change it on their Toyota.
Evans lost just over one and a half minutes in the extra task. Fortunately for the Welshman fighting for the title, he dropped only one position in the overall standings – to tenth place, 12.8 seconds behind Gregoire Munster.
“We got the alert of a puncture at the start. It was deflating slowly, but there was still so much distance left that we decided to change it. It’s not ideal,” Evans said.
The situation is now even trickier for Evans in terms of title hopes. He needs to overtake Munster, but beyond that he cannot improve his position purely on pace.
Championship runner-up Sébastien Ogier can now play it safe, as the Frenchman also has room to suffer one puncture on the rocky desert stages.
“I was very cautious. It was pure lottery, not fun at all,” said Ogier, who had already been informed about Evans’s trouble before his own run.
It is likely that the title duel between Evans and Ogier will be decided on Super Saturday, when additional points are awarded for the whole day and the Power Stage. Before Rally Saudi Arabia, the gap between them was three points.
Kalle Rovanperä still has a theoretical chance at the title, but it would practically require a retirement from both Evans and Ogier. Rovanperä also picked up a puncture near the end of the Wadi Almatwi stage, but he managed to reach the finish without changing the wheel.
“The slow puncture didn’t affect much, but you have to be careful when the pressure drops,” reported Rovanperä, who lies eighth overall.
The fight for victory heats up
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, M-Sport Ford’s Martins Sesks and Toyota’s Sami Pajari continued their fierce battle for the lead at Rally Saudi Arabia. Hyundai’s Ott Tänak is also within striking distance.
Fourmaux held onto the top spot through Wadi Almatwi, but Sesks and Pajari edged slightly closer. The top three are now covered by only 4.5 seconds.
Tänak, meanwhile, set another fastest time in a row and closed the gap to 9.2 seconds to Fourmaux.
“There were many surprises on the stage, so you need to keep your senses sharp,” Tänak said.
Three more stages remain on Friday after the service break. The rally finishes on Saturday.
Rally Saudi Arabia standings after SS11/17:
| POS | Driver | Car | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Adrien Fourmaux | Hyundai | 2:00:46.1 |
| 2. | Martins Sesks | Ford | +2.9 |
| 3. | Sami Pajari | Toyota | +4.5 |
| 4. | Ott Tänak | Hyundai | +9.2 |
| 5. | Thierry Neuville | Hyundai | +43.1 |
| 6. | Takamoto Katsuta | Toyota | +58.3 |
| 7. | Sebastien Ogier | Toyota | +1:32.1 |
| 8. | Kalle Rovanperä | Toyota | +1:52.0 |
| 9. | Gregoire Munster | Ford | +3:55.6 |
| 10. | Elfyn Evans | Toyota | +4:08.4 |
Rally Saudi Arabia itinerary (CET):
Wednesday 26 November
09:01 Shakedown: Thahban (4.56 km)
18:35 SS1: Jameel Motorsport Super Special 1 (5.22 km)
Thursday 27 November
06:08 SS2: Al Faisaliyah 1 (19.36 km)
07:06 SS3: Moon Stage 1 (20.12 km)
08:04 SS4: Khulais 1 (11.33 km)
10:14 Service (40 min)
12:22 SS5: Al Faisaliyah 2 (19.36 km)
13:20 SS6: Moon Stage 2 (20.12 km)
14:18 SS7: Khulais 2 (11.33 km)
17:28 Service (45 min)
18:31 SS8: Jameel Motorsport Super Special 2 (5.22 km)
Friday 28 November
06:26 SS9: Alghulah 1 (11.69 km)
07:19 SS10: Um Al Jerem 1 (30.58 km)
08:35 SS11: Wadi Almatwi 1 (24.90 km)
10:15 Service (40 min)
11:51 SS12: Alghulah 2 (11.69 km)
12:47 SS13: Um Al Jerem 2 (30.58 km)
14:05 SS14: Wadi Almatwi 2 (24.90 km)
Saturday 29 November
07:05 SS15: Thahban 1 (16.29 km)
08:21 SS16: Asfan (33.28 km)
11:15 SS17: Thahban 2 (16.29 km) *Power Stage
