World Rally Championship: Sami Pajari makes history as he cuts into Elfyn Evans' lead

Sami Pajari is not mentioned directly as the only change maker, but the key story at this rally is M-Sport Ford driver McErlean finishing on a career-best run of sixth despite setbacks. McErlean started strongly and ran as high as second on Friday, then a puncture derailed his podium hopes. On Sunday he made a makeshift repair on a broken gear stick using a spanner to stay in the fight. Meanwhile, Motorsport Ireland teammate Jon Armstrong retired after tearing the rear off his Ford Puma Rally1 when he clipped a bank with three stages left. Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston rolled their Toyota on Sunday’s penultimate stage; the stage was stopped and both were taken to hospital as a precaution.