WRC
Evans pinpoints how the WRC title slipped from his grasp
Elfyn Evans has pinpointed the areas where the battle for a maiden FIA World Rally Championship title was ultimately lost to Toyota team-mate Sebastian Ogier.
Evans had led the title race after 10 of 14 events this year only to miss out on the title by four points to Ogier - the closest the now five-time title runner-up has been to claiming the most coveted prize in rallying.
The Welshman held a three-point lead over Ogier heading into last weekend’s Rally Saudi Arabia finale but could only finish sixth after losing time to a wheel change on Saturday morning after being delayed by opening on the brutal gravel roads. Ogier seemingly had the edge over Evans throughout the rally and also incurred tyre damage of his own but fortunately didn’t need to stop to change wheels.
Elfyn Evans is now the championship runner-up on five occasions
© Jaanus Ree
In the end, Ogier finished third after M-Sport-Ford’s Mārtiņš Sesks and the Toyota pairing of Takamoto Katsuta and Kalle Rovanperä all hit trouble on the final day.
Assessing where he feels he lost grip of the title battle, Evans explained: “Of course, there is better things we could have done during the year, but it was also the case that it was an ok year, but we were not strong enough obviously to beat Séb this time, so it is like that.
“I wasn’t fast enough on some of the dry gravel rallies in the middle of the year. Here in Saudi Arabia, I don’t think it made any difference because the road position was playing such a huge part.
Three drivers remained a chance of winning the title in Saudi Arabia
© Jaanus Ree
“Yes, we could have been 10 or 20 seconds closer at some point in the rally but in the end it wouldn’t have changed the outcome. I feel maybe some difference could have been made earlier in the year, I don’t blame this rally for the outcome.”
While admitting he struggled with opening the road during the summer gravel rallies, Evans believes points swings to Ogier in events where he was fighting at the front were crucial in determining the title battle.
Elfyn Evans was the most consistent driver throughout the season
© Jaanus Ree
“There was a four-point swing in Japan and a four-point swing in Chile, which were at rallies we did pretty well on, but then there was Greece, Portugal and Sardinia where we really struggled and couldn’t take any advantage of,” Evans added.
“Even if there wasn’t a lot more possible with the road position I think the Super Sunday had a huge influence and I wasn’t able to bounce back there.
“We lost by four points and I’m sure you can find four points earlier in the year. It is not easy though as I would have done it.
I wouldn’t be in the right job if I wasn’t sat here and disappointed to have not beaten him and want to beat him, so it is like that.
When you compare to the three other [former] champions [still competing in the WRC], it was a pretty ok season. It was only Séb that was standing out really.”
Evans was quick to pay tribute to Ogier for winning a ninth title and co-driver Vincent Landais, who sealed his first world crown.
“It wasn’t to be for us, but Seb and Vincent have been amazing all year and deserve this title,” he said.
“The results speak for themselves and I think you can argue he [Seb] is the best of all time so I should take a bit of comfort in that I have lost to him.
“But I wouldn’t be in the right job if I wasn’t sat here and disappointed to have not beaten him and want to beat him, so it is like that.”
