Sat 14 Oct 2023
The winner of this year’s World Rally Championship will drive a Toyota, that’s for sure – and Elfyn Evans hasn’t given up on writing his own name on the sport’s most coveted of trophies yet.
The Welshman starts the penultimate round of the series – this month’s Central European Rally – 31 points behind team-mate and defending champion Kalle Rovanperä.
In the most extreme case, victory on both the rally and the Wolf Power Stage allied to a retirement for the Finn would leave them just a single point apart going into the FORUM8 Rally Japan finale.
Evans is not giving up.
“It’s still open,” said Evans, “so, of course, we’re going to keep on doing all we can. Chile was a bit disappointing if I’m honest, we went there hoping for more [than third place]. I’m kicking myself a bit that I didn’t manage the tyres a bit better, but you live and learn.
“We know that Kalle’s maybe had the edge on Tarmac with this car, not with previous one, but let’s see.”
The closest non-Toyota driver is Thierry Neuville – the Belgian is 62 points behind Rovanperä with 60 on offer. Second and a silver medal is the best the Hyundai star could score this season.
Finland
Italy
Hungary