World Rally Championship: Evelyn Evans’ title ‘will put rallying back on the map’

Like many rally drivers, Dolgellau-born Evans has a pedigree.

“Elfyn is one of those figures in the rally world that he came into because of his father,” James explains.

“His father, Gwyndaff, was a British champion, so there are similarities with the MacRae family. Jamie MacRae, the British champion, [son] Colin, British hero [and Colin’s brother] Alistair, British Champion.

“For Elvin, growing up rallying was part of the family, so he started out driving like many other young rally fans around the house, garden, farm or whatever in a tractor, started competing, up and down, won a few minor championships, became British champion, moved on to the world stage, and won a scholarship with M-Sport.

“He worked with them for a year to learn how to develop cars – which I think stood him in good stead to understand how a rally car works and what you can do with it – he moved to Toyota and has been there or there ever since in terms of the world title.”

After winning his first WRC event at the 2017 Wales Rally GB, Evans joined Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2020, narrowly missing out on the title in his first season with the Japanese team.

He led the championship before the final round at Monza, where a crash on treacherous snow-covered roads handed the title to teammate Ogier.

He would be runner-up again to the Frenchman 12 months later and then finished second behind Rofabera in 2023 and Belgian Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville a year ago.

“He’s not getting any younger, you’ve got young drivers kind of attacking him,” James points out.

“You have Oliver Solberg who won in Estonia this year. He will drive for the same team next year. So Elvin must really feel if I don’t do it this year, when will I do it?”

“Age is not a factor. I don’t think it would be a factor for, say, a Formula 1 driver. But yes, the clock is ticking for Elvin.”