logo
WRC leader Evans third as Toyota dominate Canaries

WRC leader Evans third as Toyota dominate Canaries

BBC News27-04-2025

Wales' Elfyn Evans finished third as Toyota dominated the inaugural Rally Islas Canarias, taking the top four places.World Rally Championship (WRC) leader Evans finished one minute and 17 seconds behind winner Kalle Rovanpera with fellow team-mate Sebastien Ogier second.Rovanpera, the 2022 and 2023 WRC champion, won 15 of the rally's 18 stages and collected a maximum 35 points to jump from sixth place overall up to second.Evans and co-driver Scott Martin picked up 21 points for the weekend and have extended their championship lead from 36 points to 43.Despite that, the 36-year-old Welshman - who had won the previous two rallies in Kenya and Sweden - was left frustrated to record his lowest finish of the season so far. "When you aren't in a position to fight for the win, in equal machinery, it never feels great," said Evans.
Belgian Thierry Neuville struggled for grip along with the other Hyundai drivers - finishing well off the pace in seventh and losing second place overall to Rovanpera who took his first victory for seven months."It has not been the best start of the season but we are definitely, in this kind of condition, back now," said the 24-year-old Finnish driver.Toyota had been on course for a record-equalling 1-2-3-4-5 finish before Sami Pajari crashed out on Saturday's penultimate stage promoting team-mate Takamoto Katsuta and his Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston to fourth.Northern Ireland's Josh McErlean crashed out on the final day's opening test, running wide and crashing into the barriers on a right-handed corner.The Ford Puma driver was forced to retire on the spot from 10th place but remains 12th in the overall standings.Round five of the 14-event series is Rally de Portugal from 15-18 May.
Rally Islas Canarias result
1. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 2 hours 54 minutes 39.8 seconds2. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +53.5secs3. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +1min 17.1secs4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +2min 02.9secs5. Adrien Formaux (France), Hyundai, +2min 31secs6. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +3min 11.4secs7. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3min 40.7secs
FIA World Rally Championship drivers' standings (provisional)
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 109 points2. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 663. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 594. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 585. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 576. Adrien Formaux (France), Hyundai, 4411. Gus Greensmith (Great Britain), Skoda, 8 12. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 8

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Celtic eyeing new Sweden sensation as Brendan Rodgers plots cut-price transfer
Celtic eyeing new Sweden sensation as Brendan Rodgers plots cut-price transfer

Scottish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Celtic eyeing new Sweden sensation as Brendan Rodgers plots cut-price transfer

It's a long term interest - but other foreign clubs are circling CELTIC are eyeing a move for Sweden star Benjamin Nygren. SunSport understands the Nordsjaelland playmaker is on Brendan Rodgers' radar as he looks to boost his squad. Advertisement 5 Benjamin Nygren of Sweden celebrates one of his two goals for Sweden to date Credit: EPA 5 Sweden's Benjamin Nygren (C) and Algeria's Ramy Bensebaini (R) vie for the ball Credit: AFP But the Hoops face competition from the likes of Anderlecht and Copenhagen for the 23-year-old. Nygren is out of contract in six months and could be available for a cut-price £2million fee. He recently broke into the Sweden team after a standout season with Nordsjaelland in Denmark. Nygren scored 16 goals and claimed four assists - earning a senior international chance. Advertisement And he already has two goals in four caps, including a wonder strike against Hungary last week. Danish sources claim Celtic have scouted Nygren in recent months as interest mounts. The gifted attacker has excelled in the No10 position for his club - but can also play off the wing or up front. Nygren has confirmed he won't extend his Nordsjaelland contract beyond the end of this year. Advertisement And the Danes are now likely to cash in on him in this transfer window - instead of losing him for nothing in January. Nygren came through the ranks at IFK Gothenburg before making a £3m move to Belgian side Genk in 2019 - aged just 17. Thousands of Celtic fans march to Hampden for Scottish Cup final vs Aberdeen amid heavy police presence A star of the Swedish youth teams, he was tipped as one of his country's next big things. But Nygren struggled to make an impact at Genk and was loaned to Dutch club Heerenveen before joining Nordsjaelland in 2022. Advertisement The attacker has blossomed in Denmark and is now poised to make the next step in his career. Celtic boss Rodgers is looking to bolster several areas of his squad and Nygren would add creativity. He fits the profile the Hoops normally look for and would give him a platform to develop. Yet there is growing interest in the Swede after he broke into the national team due to his outstanding club form. Advertisement Nygren scored against Hungary and then started Tuesday's 4-3 win over Algeria. 5 Anderlecht are keen to take him back to Belgium, but Copenhagen also want to nab him from their Superliga rivals. Celtic are ramping up their transfer activity - with Kieran Tierney confirmed on a five-year deal this week. Advertisement The Hoops are also set to bring in Aberdeen keeper Ross Doohan, while Fulham kid Callum Osmand has agreed terms. Rodgers will look to strengthen various areas and is also chasing more options in the wide areas - with Jota potentially out until 2026. Antwerp's Michel-Ange Balikwisha has been a long-term target and Celtic now have to decide whether to follow that up with a formal bid. Anderlecht's Nilson Angulo has been watched, as has Sarpsborg's Sondre Orjasaeter and Raul Moro of Real Valladolid There will also be outgoings - with the likes of Gustaf Lagerbielke and Luis Palma expected to leave permanently. Advertisement Greg Taylor seems destined to quit Celtic on a free, while talk of a Jeffrey Schlupp return has gone quiet. Rodgers admits he also expects big-money bids for stars like Daizen Maeda in this window. But the Celtic boss still hopes to tie down the Japanese ace on a new deal. 5 Antwerp's Belgian forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha (C) celebrates after scoring a goal Credit: AFP Advertisement 5 Brendan Rodgers is an admirer Credit: Kenny Ramsay Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page

Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad
Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad

North Wales Chronicle

time3 hours ago

  • North Wales Chronicle

Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad

The England international was not included in the 27-man travelling party published by the Premier League club on Wednesday. The 29-year-old's omission had been widely anticipated and will raise further doubts over his future at the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder, signed for £100million from Aston Villa four years ago, has fallen down the pecking order at City since playing a starring role in their treble success of 2023. He made just seven Premier League starts in the 2024-25 campaign and was notably not summoned from the bench as City went down to a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last month. He was then left out of the matchday squad for the final Premier League game of the season at Fulham altogether. With City's overhaul of the squad continuing apace with four new signings this week, there is growing speculation Grealish could leave. He has been linked with a number of clubs in England and in Europe. Your City travelling squad for the @FIFACWC 📋🔒#TakeItToTheWorld 🌍 — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 11, 2025 As expected, Kevin De Bruyne will also not be involved in this summer's tournament in the United States. The Belgian playmaker is leaving City this summer but could still have played before his contract expires on June 30. The 33-year-old looks set to join Serie A champions Napoli when he officially becomes a free agent. New signings Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli are all included in Pep Guardiola's squad, which could have featured up to 35 names. There will be an opportunity to register more players for the knockout stages should City progress that far. City begin their campaign against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday before facing further group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is missing through injury, while James McAtee is on international duty with England Under-21s.

Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad
Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad

South Wales Guardian

time3 hours ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Jack Grealish left out of Manchester City's Club World Cup squad

The England international was not included in the 27-man travelling party published by the Premier League club on Wednesday. The 29-year-old's omission had been widely anticipated and will raise further doubts over his future at the Etihad Stadium. The midfielder, signed for £100million from Aston Villa four years ago, has fallen down the pecking order at City since playing a starring role in their treble success of 2023. He made just seven Premier League starts in the 2024-25 campaign and was notably not summoned from the bench as City went down to a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final last month. He was then left out of the matchday squad for the final Premier League game of the season at Fulham altogether. With City's overhaul of the squad continuing apace with four new signings this week, there is growing speculation Grealish could leave. He has been linked with a number of clubs in England and in Europe. Your City travelling squad for the @FIFACWC 📋🔒#TakeItToTheWorld 🌍 — Manchester City (@ManCity) June 11, 2025 As expected, Kevin De Bruyne will also not be involved in this summer's tournament in the United States. The Belgian playmaker is leaving City this summer but could still have played before his contract expires on June 30. The 33-year-old looks set to join Serie A champions Napoli when he officially becomes a free agent. New signings Rayan Ait-Nouri, Rayan Cherki, Tijani Reijnders and Marcus Bettinelli are all included in Pep Guardiola's squad, which could have featured up to 35 names. There will be an opportunity to register more players for the knockout stages should City progress that far. City begin their campaign against Moroccan side Wydad Casablanca in Philadelphia next Wednesday before facing further group games against Al Ain of Abu Dhabi and Juventus. Midfielder Mateo Kovacic is missing through injury, while James McAtee is on international duty with England Under-21s.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store