Elfyn Evans Ready To Talk Turkey – Just Don’t Mention The Title Chase

Elfyn Evans is refusing to be drawn on title talk as the World Rally Championship battle hots up in Turkey this weekend (18-20 September)

Wales’ rally ace is just nine points behind Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Sebastien Ogier with three rounds of the truncated season left.

“The position in the championship really hasn’t changed from last week,” said Evans. “OK, we’re one point further behind after Rally Estonia and that’s not ideal.

“We went to Estonia to try to narrow the gap, but nothing changes for me.”

https://twitter.com/TGR_WRC/status/1305494063681015808

“We’re not in a position where we can start to play any sort of tactics or any games in the championship,” said Evans, who was fourth in Estonia.

“It’s just a case of continuing rally-by-rally and Turkey will be a case of doing the best we can.

“It’s the same story. We know some people will have a better road position than we have, but Turkey’s very unpredictable and anything can happen.”

The 31-year-old from Dolgellau sat-out last year’s rally in Turkey as he recovered from a back injury and in 2018 he had a transmission issue with his then Ford Fiesta WRC.

Evans knows his Toyota Yaris doesn’t have the best record on rough roads, but reckons a strong pre-event test in Greece means the team are positive about their chances.

“The team has worked really hard and all three drivers were really happy coming away from the pre-event test,” said Evans.

“Of course, we don’t have any reference so we don’t know where we will be when it comes to fighting in the overall picture. But the one thing I can say is, let’s say in terms of the feeling in the car, it was positive.