Nightmare Ends As Evans Is Passed Fit For Wales Rally GB

By Paul Evans

By his own admission, the last ten weeks have been a nightmare for Elfyn Evans as he’s had to sit out three rounds of the FIA World Rally Championship as he recovers from a back injury. But the good news – for both him and rally fans – is that recent testing has gone well and he’s been passed fit for next month’s Wales Rally GB (3-6 October).

The 30-year old Dolgellau ace was enjoying a good season before hurting his back after a heavy and awkward landing during July’s non-championship Rally Estonia.

“I actually finished the rally – there was some pain but it was only after visiting a specialist on my return to the UK that the full extent of the injury was revealed,” said Evans. “They told me it was advisable not to keep driving for fear of making it worse.”

That meant that Evans was forced to miss rallies in Finland, Germany and Turkey, slipping from fourth to ninth in the WRC drivers’ standings in the process.

“I can’t tell you how good it is to be back,” continues Evans. “Sitting on the sidelines has been a nightmare, but that’s done now and I’m only looking forward. And I’m really fired up to being back in the car at home.”

And what’s more, he and co-driver Scott Martin will have a brand new Ford Fiesta WRC to drive on Wales Rally GB, built and run by the M-Sport team.

“There’s no difference in the performance of the cars, but there’s always something special about a new car. It’s another demonstration of the support the team has given me. I’m really grateful for that. They’re expecting a win in return – I’ll see what I can do!

“Whenever you go to an event you always want to get the maximum that’s possible and this rally is no exception. As ever, we’ll be aiming for the podium and, ultimately, the goal is to finish on the top step.”

Evans knows that it will not be easy to win for a second time on home turf. With early starts and late finishes, Wales Rally GB is traditionally one of the most gruelling events on the WRC calendar.

“The rally is renowned for its very long days and this year is no exception. It will be a tough weekend for sure but that’s the nature of this sport. We’ve got to get our heads down and give it our very best.”

And Evans will not be lacking home support in the Welsh forests, as advance ticket sales have broken all previous records.