Toyota’s Elfyn Evans is predicting a baptism of fire for him and his colleagues when they arrive at the first evening’s action of the new World Rally Championship season.
Following Thursday afternoon’s ceremonial start in Casino Square, the crews head north for two stages – Malijai-Puimichel (10.6 miles) and Bayons-Bréziers (15.8 miles) – south of Gap.
Stage one starts at 2038 local time, with the second up and running at 2226. The first car will be into service at 2336.
“It’s a fairly tough way to start the season,” Evans told DirtFish. “We’re deciding on tyres a good few hours before we’re into that first stage and, obviously, we’re making that decision a long way away from the stages. That’s fairly intense.
“But that’s the nature of this rally. You have to make your choice, then not really think about it and just get on with it. It’s important to relax and have confidence in your choice – but then again, you know you’re going to be on the wrong tyre at some point during the event.”
For seven drivers – Evans included – Thursday night marks their first WRC start in a new car.
“Thursday night’s a challenge,” Evans added. “You’re in the new car, it’s dark, nobody really knows where the ice is coming.
“Is it wet, dry, freezing? You don’t know. Those two stages are run in probably the most difficult circumstances of the season.”
Seven stars stepping into the unknown:
#8 Ott Tänak/Martin Jarveoja – switched from Toyota to Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC
#17 Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia – switched from Citroën to Toyota Yaris WRC
#33 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin – switched from M-Sport to Toyota Yaris WRC
#4 Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm – switched from Citroën to M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC
#69 Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen – switched from Škoda to Toyota Yaris WRC
#44 Gus Greensmith/Elliott Edmondson – first Monte start in M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC
#18 Katsuta Takamoto/Dan Barritt – first Monte start in a Toyota Yaris WRC
