By Paul Evans
Elfyn Evans has joined the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team for the 2020 and 2021 FIA World Rally Championships – joining six time world champion Sébastien Ogier and rising star Kalle Rovanperä in an all-new star-studded driver line-up.
Until now, the 30-year old speedster has been synonymous with Ford – his family business is a Ford dealership in Dolgellau and he has driven for M-Sport for the last 10 years. As a big part of the M-Sport family, packing his bags and moving to a rival squad would not have been an easy decision to make – but it’s one that probably gives Evans and co-driver Scott Martin the best chance of challenging for the World Rally title over the next two seasons.
Evans might only have won one World Championship rally so far in his career, Wales Rally GB in 2017, but he came very close to adding to that tally this year and most certainly has the speed and experience to win any event on the 2020 calendar – regardless of the surface and the location.
“Joining TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is a great opportunity for me and I’m really excited to get going,” said Evans. “The team has been very successful since it came into the sport three years ago and I’m looking forward to be a part of it. Tommi has been very successful as a driver himself and knows what it takes to perform at this level. It’s been great to deal with him so far, and I’m looking forward to getting to know the team better as we ramp up towards the start of next season. 2019 was a mixed season for us – missing three rallies due to injury being the low point – but there were some strong results and performances as we competed for stage wins and podiums. Now I want to take that further, to be winning rallies more often and seeing what’s possible in this new chapter. It will be nice to work with Sébastien again too. With the experience and success he’s had, he’s a great guy to have in the team.”
Evans also paid tribute to M-Sport.
“M-Sport Ford has been a huge part of my career,” he added. I started competing with the Fiesta ST back in 2007 and have since competed in almost every edition of the Fiesta developed by M-Sport – all the way up to the Fiesta WRC. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some incredibility talented and motivated people, many of whom have become lifelong friends.
“Like so many in the championship right now, I owe so much to this small but passionate team. I will take away some great memories and will be forever grateful for the opportunities Malcolm [Wilson] and everyone who has passed through the doors of Dovenby Hall gave me. Thank you for everything, and I wish you every success in the years to come.”
“Over the past ten years I have watched Elfyn develop into a world-class driver – all behind the wheel of our Ford Fiesta rally cars,” said M-Sport Managing Director, Malcolm Wilson OBE. “He’s the perfect example of how a young driver can progress through Ford’s, ‘Ladder of Opportunity,’ and we wish him the very best of luck for the future.
“We wanted to retain his services for 2020, but unfortunately that’s not been possible. Having said that, I remain extremely proud of all we have achieved together and the part M-Sport has played in his development. Elfyn has become a key player at the sport’s highest level, and it goes without saying that he will always be part of the M-Sport family.”