World Rally Championship challenger Elfyn Evans says there will be no room for tactics once the season resumes with next month’s Rally Estonia.
Evans, who sits eight points behind his Toyota team-mate Sébastien Ogier after the first three rounds, will focus everything on each event rather than trying to take a calculated, longer-term view.
Given the coronavirus-related uncertainties around the five timetabled events coming in the next three months, Evans says nothing can be taken for granted.
“There’s a lot of unknowns coming up,” he told DirtFish.
“We’ve got new rallies and we’ve got events running out of season, where we don’t know so much about the conditions.
“Certainly, I don’t think people are going to be thinking too much about things like the running order question or anything like that.
“For me, I’ll carry on like I started the year, focused on each event as it comes and not thinking too far ahead. It’s about giving everything in the moment.”
Photo: Toyota Gazoo Racing
Ogier’s expected decision to remain in the WRC with Toyota into 2021 isn’t changing Evans’ approach to the rest of the season either.
The duo have been team-mates for three seasons – two of those coming during Ogier’s stint at M-Sport in 2017-18 – and Evans sees the benefits of Ogier staying on, though doesn’t mind if he leaves either.
“He’s a smart guy and I’ll be pretty happy if he stays,” said Evans.
“But at the same time, I’m not overly worried if he does decide to call time on things.
“He brings a lot to the team in terms of experience and he knows how to motivate people and get the best out of the team and the car.
Photo: Toyota Gazoo Racing
“Probably the most important thing for me is that we have parity in the team.
“Right now it’s great, everything is equal and we all have the same treatment – that’s more important to me.
“It doesn’t matter if I have Séb as a team-mate, Thierry [Neuville] or some young kid they bring in, so long as we all have an equal chance, I’m happy.”
Evans added the 53-time world rally winner still provided stern competition.
“He’s a six-time world champion, so he’s a good reference, but he’s not the only one.
“The level is high anyway, it’s not like the WRC’s a one-horse race, but he definitely adds credibility to the championship.”
