Wed 29 Jan 2025

Evans optimistic after Rallye Monte-Carlo podium

Toyota driver Elfyn Evans emerged from last week’s Rallye Monte-Carlo with his equal best result of second place on the event – and the Welshman is happy with what he sees as a solid start to the season.

Evans led the season opener for three stages on Friday morning before team-mate Sébastien Ogier eased by and remained out front until the finish. The Frenchman is, of course, running a part-time programme through 2025, which leaves Evans as the de facto series leader going into round two in Sweden next month.

Reflecting on the event, Evans said: “This was a typical Rallye Monte-Carlo, a bit more extreme than in recent years and it was a properly challenging weekend. I’m very happy to be at the end with a decent haul of points.”

Like his fellow competitors, Evans was quick to point out how overnight snow and ice further complicated Sunday’s final leg.

“Sunday started off with some very tricky conditions,” he said “We made a change at the last moment to take four studded tyres and I wasn’t sure it was the right call. In the end it seems there wasn’t a lot between the two choices and we had a pretty thrilling [Wolf] Power Stage to finish.”

Evans and co-driver Scott Martin had the whole Toyota team on the edge of their seats when he slid wide and clipped the rock face near the finish of the final stage.

Talking about that slippier-than-expected right-hander, he said: “We had a close moment a few corners from the end but thankfully we managed to get away with it.”

Sweden
Starts: Thursday, February 13, 2025 at 8:00:00 AM
Spain
Starts: Thursday, April 3, 2025 at 7:00:00 AM
Turkey
Starts: Sunday, November 10, 2024 at 8:30:00 AM