WHATEVER the outcome of the Kennards Hire Rally Australia this weekend, 2017 will go down as a memorable one for Elfyn Evans and British rallying.
The serious action in the last WRC event of the year begins tomorrow, Evans having elevated himself to being considered one of the favourites after his performance last month over more recognisable terrain.
In winning in Wales, the 28-year-old became the first British driver to win his home world championship counter since the late Richard Burns in 2000.
That success now gives Evans the chance to make it back-to-back WRC victories Down Under, which in British terms, would see him join exalted company.
While Ulsterman Kris Meeke won in Mexico and Spain this term, Colin McRae was the last Brit to win successive WRC events, in 2002, when he won the Acropolis and Safari rallies for Ford, the manufacturer Evans currently works for.
It’s something that hasn’t been lost on former British champion Evans.
“In some respects I’m still coming to terms with winning in Wales,” said the DMack team driver and Red Bull athlete.
“It wasn’t until the Monday afternoon I really got time to sit down with my dad (Gwyndaf, himself a former British champion driver) and reflect on what I’d achieved, but even then I was beginning to think about Australia and the opportunities that might offer.
“I think it’s safe to say the conditions will be slightly different this time around, for sure.”
While heat and dust provide crews with a stiff examination of stamina and concentration in Australia, for Elfyn it will be no less as rigorous as what he and co-driver Daniel Barritt faced in the Welsh forests.
“The Saturday was particularly tough; 110km competitive tests was always going to be a challenge, and that was when the DMack tyres came in to their own.
“But the fog was horrendous. You literally couldn’t see the road, or the edges, and Dan did an absolutely unbelievable job on the notes.
“It wasn’t until the Sunday we could relax - and then listen for every noise that the car made.”
He continued; “I think we knew that we and the Fiesta WRC had the pace to challenge in any event, particularly after being runners-up in Argentina - by just 0.7 of a second after we had led from the start - and again in Finland.
"We knew we could be competitive but you want more than that. It was never a case of wondering if we’d ever win, more when we might win and fortunately we didn't wait too long.
“And, after getting the first win under our belt, you have to feel the same going forward. Australia is a great opportunity to build on Wales - but with it being the last event, most drivers and crews will be going for broke, with nothing to lose,” said Evans, who just two years ago, found himself without a works drive for the coming season.
“Yes, it is a bit different this time,” he grinned. “After this rally is finished, it’ll be about getting into winter testing for Monte Carlo at the end of January and planning out what else the year might bring.
“But we’ll have five or six days holiday in Australia before heading home. I think we deserve that.”
To watch highlights of Elfyn's win at the Wales Rally, click here
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