Evans is Wales Rally GB favourite, says Ogier

The DMACK driver went more than a second per mile faster than anybody through the Clocaenog test, posting a time of 1m58.1s, and going 2.3s quicker than Dani Sordo.

Evans' Ford Fiesta is fitted with a DMACK tyre specifically made and tailored to the cooler and wetter conditions in Wales.

Fellow Ford driver Ogier reckons the different tyres of Evans is what gives him "the best cards in the hand".

"We all know he has the best cards in the hand to win the rally, but even if you have those cards you still have to do it and in these conditions that's not easy," said Ogier, who was 3.4s slower than Evans in the shakedown.

"But already this morning we have seen it's quite a performance difference with these tyres.

"He struggled in Spain where the tyre was completely wrong and they [DMACK] focused completely on this event, so they come here with the right tyre."

"We have to do our best, but Elfyn has the right package. At least he's not a threat for the championship, but if I don't win the rally, I would not be unhappy if he did."

While Ogier named Evans as the favourite, the Welshman himself was keen to play down that tag.

"This is a long and difficult rally, but if the conditions stay like they were in shakedown this morning then the tyre is working exceptionally well," said Evans.

"But the weather is drying and that will definitely help them (Michelin runners).

"Shakedown isn't completely representative for how much grip there will be.

"Obviously Sunday is in the same place, so it's the same for there, but that's a small percentage of the distance."

"There are a lot of grip changes we've seen from the recce.

"That's the type of places, where we've seen a lot of logging and there's a lot of mud, that's where we're going to lose our advantage because it will come down to the mechanical grip in the car rather than then grip from the tyre.

"We have a fantastically good compound and a pattern for this tyre, it didn't work so well last time in Spain, but it's working here so far."

Ott Tanak was third quickest behind Sordo with Jari-Matti Latvala the top Toyota in fourth.

Thierry Neuville, the only other driver other than Ogier and Tanak who can take this year’s title was fifth quickest.

Citroen stars Craig Breen and Kris Meeke were 10th and 12th quickest respectively.