Rich back to Anglia
Welsh man sends plea to his world champion team-mate
Brecon-based Malcolm Rich will switch back to his Ford Anglia for next year’s British Historic Rally Championship. Encouraged by the Rally 2WD initiative, Rich is rebuilding the Category 1 Anglia and is now offering his Escort Mk2 for sale. Arwel Blainey will co-drive.
Wales Rally GB winner Elfyn Evans has urged five-time World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier to stay with the M-sport team next season.
MN understands Ogier remains on the brink of a decision, with a further season at M-sport reckoned to be the most likely option. That’s an option Evans says would make perfect sense for him.
“I don’t know what his plans are,” said Evans, “but I really hope he doesn’t go. I’ve enjoyed working with him and Julien [Ingrassia, co-driver] and I’ve really learned from them this season. This team has achieved so much this season, but moving forward I think there’s even more that we could do together.
“It would be such a shame to change the team too much, I’d love the chance to pick up next season where we finish at the end of this year if he’s still with the team.”
Those feelings go both ways with Ogier talking in the warmest terms about his M-sport team-mates this year.
On hearing how much both Evans and the now Toyota-bound Ott Tanak felt they had learned from him, Ogier told MN: “That’s really nice to hear and it’s good to work with these guys as well. I’ve been so happy that, from the start of the season, we have had a really open relationship in the team – we shared everything. This is something we did when I was in Volkswagen and it was great to continue like this in M-sport. I got to know Ott and Elfyn better this year and they’re good guys. The atmosphere in the team is really nice, it’s like the big family.”
If Ogier does leave M-sport, Evans would be left leading the team – a task he undertook in 2015 when he and Tanak spearheaded the Cumbrian squad’s attack. That season ended with Evans being dropped from the frontline M-sport squad. He admits he’s learned a great deal since then.
“Leading the team’s really not something I’ve even thought about next year,” said Evans. “Ott and I did it in 2015, when we were both at a similar level and relatively inexperienced. But now it’s a different situation. I wouldn’t say I have more confidence now, I’d say I have a different type of confidence. I wouldn’t see it as being a big problem [if Ogier departed], but like I said, I really hope he doesn’t.”
Evans admitted he would miss Tanak, who will be driving a Yaris WRC next year.
“I’ve always enjoyed working with him,” said the Welshman. “We went through a bit together and we’ve always got on really well. For sure, I’m going to miss him.”
Ogier’s future is not expected to be decided until after next week’s Rally Australia.
Malcolm Wilson updated MN on negotiations on Monday, saying: “There’s still nothing to report I’m afraid. I know what we have to do, I know where we have to get to and that’s what I’m working on now. I’ve got more meetings this week, but I can’t see things being sorted before Rally Australia [Nov 16-19].”