WILSON: EVANS DRIVE ‘BEST YET’

M-sport boss hails Evans’ fightback WRC2 victory in new R5

Elfyn Evans’ fight back to world rallying’s elite has begun with what team principal Malcolm Wilson described as his best drive ever in Monte Carlo last week.

The Welshman dominated WRC2 on his return to the series, winning the category by more than two minutes, despite losing more than four minutes with punctures on his Ford Fiesta R5.

Wilson said: “I’ve told Elfyn that this one was the best rally he’s ever driven. He said he wasn’t so sure, but, for me, it’s the consistency he’s shown. In Corsica last year, we saw two fantastic stages and then he’d drop down a little bit; there’s been none of that here, he’s just stayed absolutely on it and annihilated everybody when he’s had to. I really hope this is the start of the fight back from Elfyn and I think it is. He’s been absolutely fantastic.”

Evans, who was dropped from the M-sport World Rally Team at the end of last season, was typically reserved in judging his own performance. He said: “This event has been really, really positive. Craig [Parry co-driver] and I have worked together for the first time and by Friday, that was starting to feel second nature, which is so important for the relationship in the car. Craig and I are both happy with the progress we’ve made and we’ve certainly done the job Malcolm wanted – it’s good from that perspective.”

Evans’ next challenge comes next month when he faces the Skoda factory squad – including local hero Pontus Tidemand – on Rally Sweden.

“Sweden’s not going to be easy,” added Wilson, “but Elfyn’s got good experience of that rally and let’s see. It’s going to be very interesting.”