Evans identifies “essential focus” for enchancment in WRC 2025

Bettering efficiency on tough gravel rallies is the primary focus for Elfyn Evans in 2025 to boost his possibilities of lifting a maiden World Rally Championship title.

The Toyota driver completed because the WRC title runner-up for a fourth time this season after a marketing campaign that resulted within the Welshman scoring extra second-place finishes in rallies than any of his rivals.

Evans emerged as a title rival to Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville earlier than his championship problem started to unravel after choosing up solely six factors in Portugal earlier than struggles for tempo on Sardinia’s gravel roads.

A retirement in Greece adopted by a crash in Finland successfully ended his title hopes earlier than happening to climb again to second within the championship standings after profitable the season finale in Japan.

Reflecting on his 2024, Evans believes there was “fairly a bit lacking” on tough gravel rallies this yr, an element he’s determined to resolve heading into 2025.

“At moments [this year] we have been clearly the quickest however there have been additionally moments the place we have been the slowest Rally1 automobile really which we have to resolve that absolutely. It would not actually make sense,” Evans informed Motorsport.com.

“There have been undoubtedly some challenges and not likely the general efficiency you clearly goal for, however nonetheless there have been some sturdy moments.

“I really suppose there was fairly a bit lacking particularly on the rougher gravel rallies and that was the most important Achilles heel actually, in order that aspect of the job wants to enhance fairly a bit. That would be the essential focus for subsequent yr.

“It has not been an incredible season from that aspect and I’d say I’ve not had the sensation I had in earlier years when it comes to feeling joyful behind the wheel. There are some issues to determine nonetheless however I feel the tip of the season has been fairly constructive after two tough rallies in Finland and Greece particularly. It needs to be all tremendous for subsequent yr.”

This yr Evans confronted extra stress on his shoulders to ship factors being one in all two full-time drivers alongside Takamoto Katsuta as Toyota fielded part-time entries for Kalle Rovanpera and Sebastien Ogier.

Subsequent season the workforce will broaden its line-up to 4 full-time drivers with Rovanpera returning for a 14-round marketing campaign alongside new signing and new WRC2 champion Sami Pajari.

When requested if this has eased the stress on his shoulders given he was successfully the workforce chief final season, he added: “Clearly there may be power in numbers and I feel it’s a fairly sturdy line-up.

“I imply on the finish of the day the 2 issues go hand in hand. I would like the factors and the workforce needs the factors and finally the higher job you do for your self, the workforce profit and we have now at all times gone with that mentality since 2020.

“The main target is on doing the most effective job you’ll be able to and I needn’t fear about the rest.”