Pressure is for tires… apparently, according to impassioned commentary comments from former England soccer star Alan Shearer.
Technically, he’s not wrong. Elfyn Evans was, like any driver, grateful when his covers were set to the correct ones in 2024.
But try telling him pressure is only for the tires propelling his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. It was very much on his shoulders, too.
Was, however, being the operative word.
Hindsight is a funny thing, but with its benefit Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala is able to see that Evans was set up for failure last season.
Up against Hyundai’s full-time threats of eventual world champion Thierry Neuville and 2019 title holder Ott Tänak, Kalle Rovanperä’s decision to go part-time left Evans alone in the Toyota fold.
Toyota did have Takamoto Katsuta, but expecting someone who’d never won a rally before to fight for the title would’ve been optimistic at best.
Realistically Evans was the team’s only hope. Making sure that wasn’t the case again was key for Latvala in 2025.
“Overall, when we went with two full-time drivers, we knew that it would be a bit more tricky during the season – and it was,” Latvala reflected.
“Eventually we had to ask Sébastien Ogier to drive more events, which he was then willing to do.
“So this year, definitely, that was the plan to have three drivers full-time.”
Welcome back Rovanperä – you’ve been missed. But Toyota has taken that even one step further with Sami Pajari joining his fellow Finn, Evans and Katsuta on a 14-round program.
The full-time return of the two-time world champion, though, is the obvious coup. Privately, Toyota must be feeling that bit more confident with the 24-year-old leading the line given his previous prowess.
But it equally has every reason to believe Rovanperä’s return will bring out the best in Evans, too.
Evans won't have all of Toyota's expectations on his shoulders in 2025 like in 2024
“If I think overall, Elfyn can be… when there is another driver fighting for the championship, it’s also good for Elfyn because I think he’s having the pressure on his shoulders when he needs to be alone – it’s a little bit hard for him,” Latvala said.
Clearly he doesn’t subscribe to the Newcastle United legend’s theory either. We digress.
“I think Elfyn can be much stronger this year. I mean he did a good season [last year], but to be… you know, if you look a few years back when Elfyn was fighting for the championship title. I think this will also boost Elfyn’s performance that he can be back in the fight for the championship.
“He wants to deliver for the team, he wants to give the results, but when he knows it’s only on his shoulders the pressure is too much for him.
“I mean, Elfyn doesn’t do mistakes. He is consistent. But at the same time, if you go to the mood that you know that I can’t afford to make mistakes, then you’re dropping your speed at the same time.
“So I think the speed will raise up this year.”
Evans himself has told DirtFish the return of his full-time team-mate “doesn’t change the expectations” for the year ahead as you can only beat whoever’s against you – even if in Evans’ case that is now three world champions.
Regardless of what pressure may be on the Welshman’s shoulders, be-it internally or externally, he’ll be applying plenty of it on himself.
But it’ll be fascinating to see if Latvala’s theory proves correct this year, and actually what many could perceive as a threat in Rovanperä transpires to be an opportunity.
