Elfyn Evans could have been set for a move to Hyundai in 2020 had Ott Tänak not left Toyota, former Hyundai team principal Andrea Adamo has been revealed.
Speaking exclusively on this week’s episode of SPIN, The Rally Pod, Adamo said that Evans, who signed for Toyota from M-Sport in late 2019, was his backup plan had Tänak not agreed to join Hyundai.
“Evans would have been our choice if Ott would not have signed in 2020,” Adamo told DirtFish’s Colin Clark on the podcast.
The revelation came on the back of assessing Evans’ tricky Rally Sweden last weekend, where he crashed out of a podium place for the second consecutive rally.
“On the other hand, I would say, don’t get me wrong, he’s the guy of the missed opportunities because in these years, I saw him miss so many opportunities that has impressed me a bit,” he added.
“He can do amazing rallies where he is definitely untouchable and then there are things that are happening that I question myself, why?”
Despite that viewpoint, Adamo still believes Evans can fight for the 2022 title, despite already being 42 points off the top spot held by Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovanperä.
“There are many rallies still to come. We have seen in Sweden that there are variables and there is one variable that I hope will not come back again. But this hybrid thing can be a big joker and can be something that creates unexpected issues that I hope they will solve soon.
“But there are so many rallies to come and I would not be surprised to see the situation [turned] upside down.
“There are many times in rally history where a driver that are [towards the] back of the standings that became world champion.”
“I hope he does not feel himself too much under pressure because I think at the end of the year the one who will manage better will be the winner.
“Everyone was saying that someone like Ogier was winning everything. But let me say this the other way around. To be beaten by Ogier was relieving pressure on everyone because they could say ‘hey, I’ve been beaten by Ogier’. Now Ogier isn’t there. So you have no excuses.”
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