Rally news
M-sport driver will start testing again after being out of action since Rally Estonia over two months ago
M-sport driver Elfyn Evans will be back behind the wheel of a rally car for the first time in more than two months this week.
The Welshman has spent the last 10 weeks on the sidelines following a back injury sustained at July’s Rally Estonia. Signed off as 100% fit by his medical team late last week, Evans began his physical preparations for a World Rally Championship return at Wales Rally GB immediately.
“It’s such a relief to be back,” said Evans. “It’s been painful sitting around waiting for this news. Now I know I’m 100% and I’m straight back at it. I’ve done some training, but I’ve had to be careful with my back – I’m glad I can stop with all that putting my legs in the air sh*t and get on with some hard work.”
M-sport managing director Malcolm Wilson told MN Evans will drive a Ford Fiesta R5 in Greystoke – M-sport’s test facility – this week.
“I’ve never known Elfyn so keen to do some PR work in a car,” said Wilson. “OK, it’s an R5 car not a World Rally
Car, but it’s great to have him back out there and he’ll be back in a World Rally Car as soon as possible.
“We have definitely missed him.
When you look at the pace Teemu [Suninen] managed on days two and three in Germany, you can’t help but think that’s one Elfyn could have been in with a shot at winning.”
Suninen echoed those sentiments, adding: “It’ll be really good to have Elfyn back in the team again – especially for this rally [in Wales] where he has a lot of experience and knows how to win. It will be useful to talk from the test and look into the rally at the data from both of our cars.”
Evans will come back with a brand new Ford Fiesta WRC.
“We want to give him the absolute best,” said Wilson. “Obviously there’s no difference in the performance, they’re all the same – but it’s good as a driver to go in there knowing everything is perfect, there’s no extra weld or anything like that in there. And it shows that we’re completely behind him and doing everything we can.”
Evans is expected to complete a preevent test in Greystoke and Wales as he seeks a possible second home win in three years.
“I’ve spent a lot of time watching onboards from previous years recently and the route’s pretty mega,” added Evans. “OK, there are some long days, but that’s part of the challenge. I can’t wait to get at it, to get into the test and onto the event.”
The one omission from the route which stands out is the lack of Gartheiniog.
“Maybe that’s not a bad thing,” said Evans. “I know I really like it, but I haven’t done that well in there in the last few years – I think I’ve been trying too hard and over-driving. And, let’s face it, the rest of the stages are pretty good!
“The one thing which might have helped me on the rally would have been a better place in the running order. I was fourth [in the championship] before Finland and it would have been good to go home there. Now I’ll be a bit further back and that can make things difficult.
“Having said that, I had a crap place on the road last year and I was second after the first loop on Friday. This is Wales in early October, not late November, so you never know, the weather might be sunny. To be honest, I’m not pinning my hopes on the weather, I’m pinning my hopes on good preparation and driving well.”
Looking forward to next season, Evans admitted it was vital for him to get back for the final three rallies of the year.
“If I’d missed Wales it would have really hurt,” he said. “It was bad enough as it was! But missing Wales would have meant just Spain and Australia and then that could have brought some extra pressure. With Wales, there’s still time for me to show I’m ready for next season.”
Wilson has already confirmed Evans will remain in the squad for 2020.