It has to be done. History has been made and it has to be recognized. That’s why Dolgellau is the only place to be on Thursday afternoon.
World Rally Champion Elfyn Evans will join a ‘Welcome Home’ celebration to mark the first time a Welsh driver has won rallying’s biggest prize. The Toyota star, who had led the standings since April, secured the title at the final round of the season in Sardinia earlier this month.
Predictably, probably the WRC’s most modest and unassuming champion needed some gentle persuasion ahead of Thursday’s mid-Wales moment.
“When it was first talked about, I wasn’t sure,” Evans told DirtFish. “You know: is it really me? But at the same time, it was really nice that people wanted to do something and they wanted to mark this moment.
Evans will drive his title-winning GR Yaris Rally1 into Dolgellau's main square
“To be honest, I do feel a little bit honoured, if you like, that people from Dolgellau Town Council and Gwynedd Council, among other people and places have come together and put this thing on. It’s nice that everybody’s gone to the trouble and it’ll be nice to celebrate with a lot of the folk who have been on this journey with us.”
Evans’ title-winning Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 will also be in town on Thursday.
“It’s good that we’re able to do the celebration in the hometown,” added Evans. “Obviously Wales used to be very much part of the WRC, but that hasn’t been the case for a few years – it’s nice to have the chance to show people the car and to bring it to them a little bit.”
Evans will drive the GR Yaris Rally1 into Dolgellau’s Eldon Square, where it will be on display while the World Rally Champion is interviewed on his history-making season.
Further details of the celebration, which starts at 5.45pm on Thursday, are available on Evans’ website.
