Elfyn Evans has strengthened his grip on the World Rally Championship title chase, finishing third at Rally de Portugal in a dramatic weekend that saw fortunes shift on the final stages. The Welshman now leads the standings by 12 points after a race won by Hyundai's Thierry Neuville.

The rally came alive on the penultimate stage when Toyota's Sebastien Ogier, who looked poised for back-to-back victories, suffered a puncture alongside Sami Pajari. That twist of fate propelled Evans from fifth to third, handing him a crucial points boost. The 37-year-old from Dolgellau didn't just settle for podium points—he also collected seven Sunday bonus points, pushing his championship lead ahead of Takamoto Katsuta, who finished fifth with Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston.

"A lot of guys on the team were very unlucky with the punctures today, so I feel for them," said Evans, who crossed the line 29.1 seconds behind Neuville. Swedish Toyota driver Oliver Solberg claimed second place. Despite the strong result, Evans was candid about his performance: "I'm not so satisfied with the driving over the weekend, there has been a lot of potential."

For Irish drivers, the weekend was a mixed bag. Josh McErlean battled through mishaps on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday to finish 18th, while his Motorsport Ireland and M-Sport Ford teammate Jon Armstrong endured a tougher fate. Armstrong had been running in 10th overall—and fighting back into the points after losing power steering on Friday—when his rally ended abruptly on stage 15 of 23.

The 31-year-old Fermanagh driver nudged a bank with the rear of his Puma Rally1 just 600 meters into a wet afternoon stage, causing the car to roll. "I was trying to keep a good rhythm but may have slightly underestimated the grip levels from the weather change," Armstrong told rally site Dirtfish. "The rear stepped out quickly and touched the bank, putting the car into a roll. Really frustrating to go out like this."

Armstrong had shown promise in his WRC debut season, including a top-10 finish in Sweden, but this marks his second consecutive rally exit due to a crash. "We just have to try and learn as much as possible from that," he added. "It's not good to crash one of these cars."

For rally fans and gear enthusiasts alike, this season continues to deliver high-octane drama—and the championship battle is only heating up.