Elfyn
Evans
United Kingdom
·
WRC
Key Facts
Nationality
GBR
Date of birth
28.12.1988
Birthplace
Dolgellau, Wales
Co-driver
First WRC rally
2007, Wales Rally GB
First WRC stage win
2014, Rallye Deutschland SS18
WRC stage wins
195
First WRC podium
2015, Rally Argentina
WRC podiums
43
First WRC win
2017, Wales Rally GB
WRC wins
11
First WRC Wolf Power Stage win
2014, Rallye Deutschland
Best overall WRC season result
2nd (2020-21, 2023-24)
WRC support category titles
2012 WRC Academy
Previous teams
M-Sport Ford
Website
www.elfynevans.com
About Elfyn Evans
Elfyn Evans was born into rallying. Growing up in a motorsport household in Wales, he was introduced to the sport by his father, Gwyndaf Evans, a British Rally Champion who also competed in the WRC with SEAT and Ford. But it was Evans’ grandfather who first put him behind the wheel, setting him on a path that would eventually lead to the top of world rallying.
By the age of 18, Evans was competing in events with a Nissan Micra, and his rapid progress saw him make his WRC debut in 2011, driving a Ford Fiesta R2 at Rally Finland. That same year, he finished runner-up in the British Rally Championship in a Subaru Impreza before stepping up to the Junior WRC in 2012. Four wins from six rounds secured him the title and put him firmly on the radar of WRC teams.
In 2013, Evans’ career took a major step forward when he was called up by M-Sport to replace Nasser Al-Attiyah at Rally Italia Sardegna, marking his WRC debut in a top-flight car. He spent the rest of the year contesting WRC2, taking victory on home soil in Wales. His performances earned him a full-time seat with M-Sport for 2014.
Progress was steady. Evans secured his first stage win at ADAC Rallye Deutschland in August 2014 before claiming his maiden WRC podium at Rally Argentina the following year. However, a tough 2016 saw him relegated to WRC2. Rather than letting it stall his career, he responded in style, winning three events and finishing third in the championship. He also claimed the British Rally Championship title, exactly 20 years after his father’s triumph.
Reinstated to M-Sport’s top-tier line-up in 2017, Evans came agonisingly close to a first WRC victory at Rally Argentina, only to lose out on the final stage. His breakthrough finally came later that year when he dominated Wales Rally GB, securing an emotional home win as M-Sport celebrated a clean sweep of the drivers’, co-drivers’, and manufacturers’ titles.
After two more seasons with M-Sport, Evans made a high-profile switch to Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2020. His debut season was outstanding, winning twice and leading the championship heading into the final round at Monza. However, a crash on treacherous snow-covered roads handed the title to his team-mate Sébastien Ogier. A year later, Evans was once again the closest challenger, finishing second in the standings with another two wins, including a hard-fought triumph at Rally Finland.
The introduction of WRC’s hybrid era in 2022 proved challenging, with Evans struggling to adapt to the new Rally1 machinery. A series of setbacks, including crashes in Monte-Carlo and Sweden, as well as roll cage damage in New Zealand, left him fourth in the championship with no wins.
Determined to bounce back, he rediscovered his form in 2023. Three victories saw him push team-mate Kalle Rovanperä deep into the season before ultimately finishing runner-up for the third time in four years.
Hopes were high for 2024, but the season brought more frustration. While he once again finished as championship runner-up, his only victory came at the final round, FORUM8 Rally Japan, a crucial result that secured Toyota Gazoo Racing’s manufacturers’ title. Now, as he looks ahead to 2025, Evans remains in pursuit of his ultimate goal – becoming Wales’ first WRC champion
Elfyn Evans
© WRC
Heading back into top-level rallying action in the WRC, the Welshman almost secured a maiden victory at Rally Argentina 2017, but a minor mistake on the Wolf Power Stage handed victory to rival Thierry Neuville. It wasn't all bad news for Evans though – an emphatic maiden victory at his home event, Wales Rally GB, came at the end of the year, as M-Sport claimed a monopoly on the drivers' and constructors' titles.
Two more years with the Cumbrian-based team followed, before a switch across the service park to Toyota GAZOO Racing in 2020 where Evans' raw talent came to the fore, despite the COVID-19 pandemic causing massive changes to the season.
The Welshman went into the final round at Monza in the lead of the championship, before an unfortunate crash would hand the championship to team-mate Sébastien Ogier. 2021 presented much of the same for Evans, as he finished second following the final round in Monza. He chalked up two wins, a win in Finland standing out as a particular highlight after a hard-fought event at the ‘Grand Prix on Gravel'.
2022 ushered in the WRC's hybrid era and Evans found himself struggling to adapt to the new breed of car, finishing fourth overall with no wins, crashes in the opener at Monte-Carlo, the second round in Sweden and roll cage damage in New Zealand, as well as losing out on the championship to team-mate Kalle Rovanperä.
After a frustrating year, the Welshman once again found the resolve to bounce back and finished second in the 2023 season with three wins, pushing team-mate Rovanperä to the penultimate round at the Central European Rally, before the young Finn could secure the title. 2024 bore little fruit for the Welshman, who finished runner-up once again. FORUM8 Rally Japan, the final round of the year, marked his sole victory of the season and proved all-important for Toyota GAZOO Racing's eventual manufacturers' title.
WRC photos 2025
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025
© WRC
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin, WRC Rallye Monte-Carlo 2025
© WRC
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin, WRC Rally Sweden 2025
© WRC
Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin, WRC Rally Sweden 2025
© WRC