American Marconi Wireless News - Advantage Ogier as Evans' title hopes punctured at Rally Saudi Arabia

He had to change a rear-left tyre which cost him around two minutes, giving the title advantage to his Toyota teammate Sebastien Ogier.

"We had a puncture alarm right at the beginning," said Evans.

"It was going down quite slow but it was so far to go that we had to make a decision to change it where we could. Not ideal."

France's Ogier, three points behind Evans going into this season-closer, ended the day in sixth, but crucially over two-and-a-half minutes up on Evans, despite being hampered by a double puncture himself.

"Tomorrow we'll have to cross our fingers to not have any more punctures," said Ogier.

"I don't want to take any risks otherwise there's a big chance we won't finish this rally," he added.

If Ogier does triumph it will be quite remarkable in that he has skipped four events in the 14-rally season.

It would also mark a ninth title, which would draw him level with the record set by another French legend, Sebastien Loeb.

There was drama for the rally leader Adrien Forumaux, who ended Friday topping the time sheets but dropped to fourth after a one minute penalty.

The lead was inherited by Martins Sesks ahead of the final day's three stages at this inaugural visit to Saudi Arabia.

F.Bennett--AMWN