Elfyn Evans could need 24 hours to get back to his best when he takes to the roads at the Wales Rally GB.
That’s the verdict of Nicky Grist, when assessing the chances of Wales’ top driver who is making his return from injury at his home event.
The M-Sport Ford driver from Dolgellau in back hunting for points in the World Rally Championship after a back injury forced him to miss the legs in Finland, Germany and Turkey.
But fellow Welshman Grist – who won the event twice as a co-driver – believes Evans’ absence from that trio of events will have an effect on his ambitions to gain a repeat of the stunning triumph he achieved on home soil in 2017.
As the Wales Rally GB returns between October 3 and 6 – with both live race action and highlights to be shown on S4C – Grist says: “It’s going to be tough for poor, old Elfyn as he’s missed out on a few events.
“At this level, you have to be pretty sharp and competing all the time to be at your best. If you’re not, then it takes a little while to get back on the pace.
“It’s about finding the pace to get back to the level of the other guys who’ve done the three events he’s missed out on. And I think it will take him a day to get the sharpness and the speed of the others.
“The good thing is he’s back and that Welsh fans, and British fans, have got another Brit to cheer on, which is brilliant.”
Evans suffered his back injury when he landed awkwardly in his car during Rally Estonia. That was a non-championship event, but one which many crews use as practice for Rally Finland as the roads are similar.
But after specialist treatment, the 30-year-old will return to home roads he knows well, having first competed at Wales Rally GB back in 2007.
Grist – who won in 1993 with Colin McRae (Subaru) and in 1997 with Juha Kankkunen (Toyota) – suffered one of his more infamous accidents at Wales Rally GB, alongside McRae in 2001.
But he insists Evans will have no lasting emotional affects from the incident that left him injured.
“I don’t think he’ll be affected,” says Grist. “He’s a professional driver and he’ll manage that without any problem whatsoever.
“After an accident, you may be a little tentative, initially. But once you actually get into the flow of it all then you’re fine.
Evans’ victory at Wales rally GB two years ago remains his only World Rally Championship triumph, although he looked set to win the Tour of Corsica earlier this year, before a puncture on the final stage cost him dearly.
Having missed those three rounds through injury, Evans is now back in ninth place in the current World Rally Championship standings and cannot wait to return.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back behind the wheel again,” said Evans.
“I’ve been fully focussed on my training and rehab and working with experts to ensure I’m at full strength when I step inside the car again.”
The title chase itself has become a three-horse race between Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Toyota Yaris WRC), Sébastien Ogier/Julien Ingrassia (Citroen C3 WRC) and Thierry Neuville/Nicolas Gilsoul (Hyundai i20 WRC).
Ogier’s recent victory in Marmaris in Turkey means between them, the trio have won 10 out of 11 rounds of this year’s WRC.
Grist sees the big three continuing their domination in Wales, with Evans’ M-Sport Ford just lacking the gas to keep pace with the Championship leaders.
“It’s difficult to say just how well Elfyn might go. Unlike Toyota and Hyundai, Ford don’t really have that ultimate pace this year. Citroen are just about there, but Ford are a bit short.
“Elfyn can overcome a lot if his car is not quite up to it, by setting good times later on. But it just seems the car of the season is Toyota, closely followed by the Hyundai. Ford hasn’t had that pace.
“You can’t really look beyond those top three. Tanak is something special and he’ll be on top of it all.”
Aside from the chances of Evans, the big question for Grist is whether Belgian driver Neuville, in the Hyundai, can keep up with leading pair, Tanak and Ogier, in what could be dusty conditions after a dry few weeks.
“The thing to look out for here is that Thierry Neuville in the Hyundai has to up his game, or the championship is finished for him. He has to win here.
“What’s strange is that we’re going through an Indian summer, with temperatures of 24 degrees and the rally is just around the corner. Gone are the days when it was in November and it was freezing cold, wet and horrible.
“Back then, there was masses of water, loads of mud and patches of ice. Things have changed, somewhat. It could even be dusty.”
WALES RALLY GB – S4C Live Coverage
SATURDAY 5 OCTOBER
14.00 RALÏO+ – LIVE STAGE: MYHERIN
One of the drivers’ favourite stages is Myherin, which also includes ‘Cornel Elfyn’ – a corner for the fans named after local driver Elfyn Evans. Emyr Penlan presents with Rhys ap William and Howard Davies providing live commentary.
SUNDAY 6 OCTOBER
12.00 RALÏO+ – LIVE STAGE: BRENIG
This time – the rally’s exciting last stage beside Llyn Brenig. This is where we find out who has won Wales Rally GB 2019! Emyr Penlan keeps company with Osian Pryce and Gwyndaf Evans, with Rhys ap William and Howard Davies providing live commentary.
S4C Highlights coverage
Ralϊo+ – Highlights from Wales Rally GB
22.30 on Thursday 3 October
20.00 on Friday 4 October
21.00 on Saturday 5 October
21.00 on Sunday 6 October
18.30 on Monday 7 October