World Rally Championship-leading co-driver Scott Martin is not interested in sitting at home waiting for his maiden title to be delivered. He wants to go out and earn it.
After the cancellation of next month’s Ypres Rally, Martin’s desperate to be back aboard the Toyota Yaris WRC he shares with Elfyn Evans for next month’s season-ending Monza Rally.
Martin and Evans are 14 points ahead of team-mates Sébastien Ogier and Julien Ingrassia with one round remaining, with Thierry Neuville a further 10 back.
If Ogier were to take maximum points on the Italian finale – including five powerstage bonus points – second place would still be enough for the Brits to be crowned, without needing anything from the powerstage.
“I can honestly say, hand on heart I’m not sitting here thinking: ‘Please cancel, please cancel the rally,'” Martin told DirtFish. “It’s quite the opposite.
“It would be foolish to say I’m not thinking about things, of course I am, but I want to go and do Monza. I want to have the chance to stand on the roof and celebrate; I want that emotion and I want to share it with as many people as possible from the team.
Evans: Title still genuine if Monza doesn't run
Martin's driver Elfyn Evans would still value winning the title from home as "everybody's had the same opportunity."
“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved as a team this year. When you look what Toyota had with three new crews at the start of the season, the work this team has done to make us all feel at home and make us comfortable has been incredible. The way we’ve come together as a team has been brilliant – we’ve been one-two for most of the rallies and Kalle’s [Rovanperä] been right there with us.”
Beyond the potential for personal glory for him and Evans, Martin talked of the importance of helping Toyota lift a second manufacturers’ championship in three years.
“We want to see Toyota back on the top step,” he said. “That’s so important to us all. It would be fantastic to give everybody the chance to celebrate and take some pleasure from this season. I think we all know how much it would mean to everybody in the team and we want the chance to celebrate together.
“And, let’s not forget, it’s a Tarmac rally we’ve got left this year. After opening the road for a few rounds on the gravel, it would be nice to have the advantage in our favor. I just hope it happens.”
Monza Rally is scheduled to run on December 4-6.
