Elfyn Evans Goes For World Title Glory But Desert Shoot-Out is a Trip Into the Unknown

The Welsh driver goes for glory over the next four days as the title race heads for a historic and unpredictable climax at Rally Saudi Arabia — the series’ first-ever visit to the Middle Eastern nation.

With only three points separating Evans from Toyota team-mate Sébastien Ogier and 35 left on the table, Evans reckons the championship will hinge not on experience or momentum, but on who adapts quickest to a landscape no driver has previously tackled.
Evans, who has finished runner-up in four of the last five seasons, knows this is another golden opportunity.

“Nobody really knows what to expect,” says Evans. 

“It’s definitely all still to play for in Saudi – very open now. I haven’t looked at the stages yet, but as far as I understand many of them are completely new. So we’ll wait and see what we find.”

READ MORE: Elfyn Evans Still Calm But World Title Bid Will go Right to the Wire

The final round, based in Jeddah, presents a blank canvas: fast sections with a hard base, softer desert stretches, rocky volcanic tracks, and rapid variations within single stages that could challenge even the most seasoned WRC competitors. 

For Evans, that means the title fight will be fought on instinct rather than familiarity.

“It’s basically a clean sheet for everyone,” he said. “I’m not aware anybody’s been there before. 

“So you just have to arrive, focus on doing the best rally you can, and see what comes.”

READ MORE: Elfyn Evans Proud But “Frustrated” as Toyota Seal Manufacturers’ Crown and he Reclaims WRC Lead

Evans’ consistency has carried him to the top — two victories, six other podiums and a run of four consecutive second-place finishes — yet Ogier’s late-season pace keeps the Frenchman firmly in the hunt for a ninth world crown. 

Evans admitted his runner-up finish in Japan left mixed feelings.

“We gave it a good go,” he reflected. “Seb did a great job again – he was tough to beat. Of course I’m disappointed with how it played out, but overall it was still a strong weekend. Just not quite enough.

“[Seb] is a tough opponent – arguably one of the best there’s ever been in this sport… Tough, but we’re still going to give it our best shot.”

READ MORE: Elfyn Evans Relaxed Even Though His WRC Lead Has Been Cut After Sardinia

Kalle Rovanperä also remains mathematically in contention, 24 points back, as he prepares for his final WRC outing before shifting into single-seater racing next year. 

Toyota’s dominance across the season gives all three title contenders the platform to fight: the squad has already sealed a fifth consecutive manufacturers’ crown, winning 12 of 13 rallies so far.

Deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen expects the title to be shaped by how well each driver solves the new terrain. 

“Rally Saudi Arabia is going to be very interesting as the final round of the championship. It’s so close now between Elfyn and Seb… Kalle still has a chance as well, and on a new rally like this, anything could happen,” he said.

Organisers have mapped out a demanding route: asphalt superspecials on Wednesday and Thursday, two gruelling loops of desert stages on Friday, and a final showdown on Saturday culminating in a Thahban Power Stage that may yet decide the world title.

Across the entry list, Toyota machinery will be in abundance — from Rally1 frontrunners to the nine GR Yaris Rally2 crews fighting for WRC2 honours — but all eyes will be on Evans, Ogier and Rovanperä as they navigate the unknown.

Evans added: “We go to Saudi Arabia knowing that everything is still to play for and very open in the championship.

“Seb is a tough opponent and performing at a really high level, and Kalle cannot be counted out at this stage either. It will be tough, but we’re going to give it our best shot of course.”

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And with the final rally rewriting the map of the sport, Evans believes adaptability — not history — will decide who emerges as world champion.

“None of the drivers have done it before and many of the stages are completely new anyway, so it’s basically a clean sheet for all of us,” he said. 

“We just have to arrive there, focus on doing the best rally we can, and see what comes.”