Evans optimistic after Australia analysis
Elfyn Evans believes he has found answers to his disappointing run at Coates Hire Rally Australia and is optimistic that he can get his driving back on track.
The Welshman struggled to find a decent set up for the gravel stages Down Under and slipped down the standings as he lost confidence with the handling of his Ford Fiesta RS.
But talking to Lisa O'Sullivan for the latest episode of the WRC Regroup podcast, Evans said a post-event analysis had revealed a lack of relevant experience in the 2015-spec car.
"We've put our fingers on a couple of things. I wasn't able to find a set-up I was happy with and I think it came down to it being a twisty rally when everything we've done with the new car up to now has been very fast," said Evans.
"In Portugal we did no more than two stages so never really got to find out there. Sardinia was very high grip so it was difficult to compare. The other two rallies have been very high speed and when we came to the sandy, loose surface in Australia I just couldn't get comfortable.
"There are a few things we understand better now, and we know how to move forward. We'll do that as part of our testing before Spain. There are some areas that we can work on and I am confident we can put them right," he added.
Up first for Evans however is the all-asphalt challenge of the Tour de Corse Rallye de France. He tested in Corsica for a day and a half last week and is feeling upbeat about the chance to build on the sixth place he secured on the last sealed surface round in Germany.
"The test went pretty well I think," he said. "In Germany we showed flashes of very good speed. Granted we were absolutely on the door handles to do it, but the speed is there. We just need to work on the consistency. In testing, early signs indicate we have made improvements. We're optimistic. If we can build on the strong points from Germany, the potential is there for a strong result."
Hear more from Evans in the Regroup podcast, available now in the media section. The latest episode also features an interview with Kevin Abbring's co-driver, Seb Marshall, about his preparations for the Tour de Corse Rallye de France.
