WRC
Evans: Efficiency behind third Sweden win
Elfyn Evans says discipline rather than drama was the defining factor behind his third Rally Sweden triumph, as the Welshman once again mastered the WRC’s only full winter encounter.
Evans headed a commanding Toyota Gazoo Racing 1-2-3-4 in Umeå last week, climbing to the top of the drivers’ standings in the process. For a non-Scandinavian driver, three victories on snow mark him out as one of the event’s modern specialists.
“It’s quite a specialist rally, so for a non-Scandinavian, I don’t think that’s too bad,” Evans said. “I’m very happy with this weekend.”
For Evans, the foundations were laid not in a headline-grabbing moment but in careful management of the Hankook studded tyre across Sweden’s frozen base. This year’s conditions only heightened that demand; with temperatures plunging beyond -20°C and snowbanks thinner than usual, exposed gravel sections punished the studs.
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“You have to be very efficient to go fast, especially with this tyre,” he explained. “It doesn’t like too much lateral load. You need to get the car as straight as possible on the exit. That’s something we’ve been focusing on.
“When you get down to the gravel at those temperatures, it’s a very tough condition for the tyre,” Evans added. “It’s been very cold and there’s been a lack of snow, so it made it particularly demanding.”
Although he ultimately seized control of the rally on Saturday morning when team-mate Oliver Solberg ran wide and suffered tyre damage, Evans pointed to Friday as a key turning point.
“If you look at Friday, I think I made a good impression on the rally straight away,” he said. “Starting second on the road maybe wasn’t the best position in the end. More than anything, it’s about being up to speed and feeling comfortable. That makes a big difference.”
Now leading the championship, Evans will open the road at Safari Rally Kenya next month. It is a challenge he meets with measured optimism, particularly if rain plays a role in Kenya’s unpredictable conditions.
“Kenya is not the worst place to open [the road], and especially if we’re in the rainy season it can actually be better,” he said. “There were some positive changes for me on gravel towards the end of last season. Some of the stages in Saudi showed that compared to where I struggled earlier in the year. Hopefully that feeling carries into Safari.”
