Three months at home and nothing has changed for Elfyn Evans. And that’s just the way he likes it. And just the way he intends to keep it.
His approach at the top of his first season with Toyota Gazoo Racing was good enough for him to take a win, a podium and the lead of the World Rally Championship after two rounds.
After Rally México, he’s dropped behind Sébastien Ogier to second in the standings, but he’s still looking strong and well set for the second half of this strangest of strange WRC seasons.
Talking to DirtFish after his first test of the Yaris WRC in Finland, the wide-eyed Welshman echoed Ogier’s sentiment about understanding the speed of the Finnish-born Toyota.
“It’s a shame there’s no Rally Finland,” said Evans, with a wry smile. “This is a fantastic road and a great place to find out about this car. It’s fantastic to be back in the car and back working with the team.
“I’ve got to say, I was a bit of a chicken in a couple of places at the start of the test, but better safe than sorry. But after that I settled in quite quickly and the car felt good.”
Talking about the approach to the remainder of 2020 – whatever it looks like – Evans said there would be no change in approach from him.
“We just need to keep doing what we’re doing with the same attitude we came into the year,” said the Rally Sweden winner.
“We’ve got a bit more experience of the car and there are a few areas we know we can still work on. I’m looking forward what may come in the second half of the year.
“Who knows what’ll happen at this stage it’s all a bit up in the air and we know everybody will be just as hungry to fight for that title, so whatever the outcome [in terms of the calendar] and whatever rallies we do, we’ve got to go with utmost effort and do our best if we do want a shot [at the title]. It’s a case of going rally-by-rally for me again.”
