Red Bull Motorsports
Rally
Elfyn Evans on his top-level WRC return
After a year in WRC2, the British driver is back in the fastest rally machinery for 2017 – and he's more fired up than ever.
Elfyn Evans is back
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
Twelve months ago, a slightly miffed Elfyn Evans found himself demoted to the WRC2 category after two promising and progressive years driving top-level WRC machinery.
The Welshman came within a hair’s breadth of taking the 2016 WRC2 title (Esapekka Lappi eventually narrowly eclipsed him at the final round in Australia), but headed into the winter with his future looking uncertain. Then, after a lot of hard work behind the scenes, the announcement came that he’d been hoping for – Elfyn would return to top-flight competition with the DMACK World Rally Team, driving the third points-nominated Ford Fiesta WRC for the M-Sport squad alongside Ott Tänak and four-time world champion Sébastien Ogier in 2017.
Here's the car Elfyn will be driving
© DMACK World Rally Team
Ahead of the start of the season, which sees the biggest overhaul of the rally regulations in 30 years, we caught up with Elfyn to talk about what it means to him to be back at the sharp end of the World Rally Championship.
How much personal satisfaction do you get from being back in a top-level car?
Obviously it’s a really exciting time for us. A lot of work and effort has gone into getting us into a position where we could come back. But to finally get the nod is very exciting, and we’re really looking forward to it.
How much do you think your performance in last year’s WRC2 helped convince [M-Sport boss] Malcolm Wilson to get you back in a top seat?
Well, there were a few things that needed to change, and I think we’ve shown that we can step up and do that. I think that that’s what Malcolm was looking for more than anything, but I think as a driver, he’s always had belief in me.
What do you think were the lessons you took from that year in WRC2?
Taking it back to realising why you go rallying was probably the biggest lesson. Enjoying the sport for what it is. I think it’s easy to get caught up in distractions or taking a few things for granted when you’re in the mad world that is the WRC and you’re going from event to event without taking time to breathe, almost. It’s good to pinch yourself on the arm and realise what an opportunity it is to be driving in the World Championship and really try and enjoy the driving again, because that’s ultimately what brings results.
Elfyn came close to winning WRC2 in 2016
© Jaanus Ree/Red Bull Content Pool
How do you think your approach will change this time round, compared to your first WRC stint in 2014-15?
I think this sport is so dependent on having experience, both of the rallies and driving the car, but also of life experience. I think that gaining a combination of the two over the years has made us a lot stronger. Working with DMACK last year [Elfyn won the British Rally Championship with the team in a Ford Fiesta R5], we know how much progress they’re making and obviously we want to keep making progress, so we’re really looking forward to trying to put a strong year together.
The work they have done on the chassis is phenomenal
Obviously we’ve got a big rule shake up for 2017. You’ve tested the new M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC quite a bit. What are your impressions of the car?
It’s all-new from the ground up, that’s the first big thing. Everything from the seating position to the feeling and feedback you get from the car is different. M-Sport have just done an incredible job. It’s a lot, lot faster, but it just copes with that extra speed and power so well at the same time. All the aerodynamics and the work they’ve done on the chassis is phenomenal. It’s just a massive jump and improvement in every area, not just the obvious power changes.
The new M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC is more powerful
© DMACK World Rally Team
And how do you find the power changes? Do you think we’ll still see the same guys at the top of the stage times?
I think we have to wait and see a little bit. But I think generally, if someone was strong last year, they’ll be strong this year. The previous car needed driving, and certainly this car needs driving too. I don’t think a lot will change in that regard.
Having someone like Sébastien Ogier to work alongside is a fantastic opportunity
Speaking of people who were strong last year, you’ve gained a new team-mate in Sébastien Ogier. Are you looking forward to working alongside him this year?
It’s great for me to be in the same team as him. He’s got so much experience and has achieved so much in his career, so to have someone like that to work alongside is a fantastic opportunity. I’m really looking forward to seeing what I can learn from him this year.
The difference between you and your M-Sport squad mates Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tänak is that you’ll be running on DMACK tyres while they’ll be on Michelins. How much of a difference do you think that will make?
Last year we saw that the DMACK tyres were particularly strong on certain rallies. They’re always developing, always bringing out new products, and for 2017 all the [tyres] are new – although Michelin will obviously have that as well. We’re certainly hoping to close that gap to Michelin a little bit more and that we’ll be fighting at the front on some, if not, all the rallies.
So what are your goals for 2017? Is it podiums – or maybe even your first win?
All those things! I definitely want to be aiming for podiums again. It’s a bit of an open book as to who’s going to be where. But everybody’s got a brand new car, there are new regulations, so it’s really case of waiting to see where everybody is. My gut feeling is that everybody will be quite close, but hopefully we can be right in the thick of the action.
