Photo credit: www.autosport.com
Elfyn Evans Aims for Improvement Ahead of 2025 WRC Season
Elfyn Evans is setting his sights on enhancing his performance on rough gravel rallies as he gears up for a fresh challenge in the 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC). The Welsh driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing is determined to improve his chances of clinching his first championship title after finishing as the series runner-up for the fourth consecutive time this past season.
Throughout the 2024 season, Evans demonstrated competitive form, securing more second-place finishes than any of his fellow contenders. However, his pursuit of the championship became increasingly complicated, particularly after a disappointing outing in Portugal where he managed to score only six points. This was followed by difficulties on Sardinia’s challenging gravel roads, contributing to a dip in his title challenge.
The situation worsened as he faced a retirement in Greece and a crash in Finland, which dashed his hopes of securing the championship. Despite these setbacks, Evans rebounded to reclaim second place in the standings by finishing strongly with a victory at the season finale in Japan.
In a recent reflection on his season, Evans acknowledged that “quite a bit was missing” during the rough gravel rallies, an area he feels needs significant attention as he looks toward 2025. “At times we were clearly the fastest, but there were also periods where we were struggling,” he explained to Autosport. “It doesn’t fully make sense, and we need to figure that out comprehensively.”
He elaborated that the challenges encountered during the season prevented him from reaching the performance levels he aimed for, though he recognized some strong moments throughout. “This year’s performance during rougher gravel rallies was perhaps our biggest weakness, and I believe improving that aspect will be crucial for next year,” he stated.
Evans’ challenges were compounded as he was one of only two full-time drivers for Toyota, alongside Takamoto Katsuta, while the team opted for part-time entries for other elite drivers like Kalle Rovanpera and Sébastien Ogier. However, the upcoming season promises a stronger line-up for Toyota, with plans to expand to four full-time drivers as Rovanpera returns to join new signing Sami Pajari, the reigning WRC2 champion.
When asked if this newly expanded team structure would alleviate some of the pressure he faced as the de facto team leader, Evans noted, “There is certainly strength in numbers, and I believe we have a very robust line-up for the next season.” He emphasized the importance of individual performance in contributing to the team’s success, underscoring a philosophy he’s adhered to since 2020: “The focus should always be on delivering the best performance possible, as it ultimately benefits the team.”
Source
www.autosport.com