Evans: I am ready to show true potential

M-sport Ford team leader Elfyn Evans says he’s ready to deliver on the confidence Malcolm Wilson has shown in him for the season ahead.

Evans endured a turbulent start to 2018 and had to fight for his chance to remain in a Ford Fiesta WRC this season, but he insists he’s learned plenty with the Cumbrian squad.

Evans said: “Last year taught me the most about having confidence in driving at 98% and not feeling the need to be going at 110%. To go harder, you can go slower and if you believe in everything and believe in the car, the time will come. That’s experience. I feel I’ve got that now.”

Evans starts the new season with Scott Martin alongside him for the first time. While Martin might not have sat with the Welshman before, he knows the M-sport team of old, having cut his teeth there as a mechanic and then co-driving Matthew Wilson.

“Malcolm has told us he wants more consistent performances and he wants us to operate at the level he believes we can,” said Martin. “Malcolm feels Elfyn’s got everything there and he’d like it delivered. For me it’s nice to come back here, it’s like coming home.

“Going into this season, Malcolm’s assured us the performance stays the same, nothing changes and that’s so important. Elfyn’s already highly motivated and I hope I can bring something to the partnership.”