WRC rookie Elfyn Evans reckons he took a “big leap forward” as a driver when he finished fourth at last weekend’s ADAC Rallye Deutschland.
The result equaled the M-Sport World Rally Team driver’s career-best finish in World Rally Car machinery. His pace was also strong enough to claim his first-ever stage win and beat more experienced team-mate Mikko Hirvonen by 6.9s on Germany’s unpredictable asphalt stages.
“Without question, this has been my best drive in a World Rally Car,” the 25-year-old said. “I think we’ve done a big leap forward from where we were during the rest of the year in terms of consistency.
“Previously, I don’t think I’ve been massively strong when the conditions have been difficult, but we seem to have been strong in those conditions this weekend. It’s nice to put that right and I think a lot of that has come from my confidence and having a little bit of knowledge from the rally last year.”
Evans will have to wait until after next month’s Coates Hire Rally Australia (11-14 October) to build on the asphalt form he enjoyed in Germany, but he believes that with a bit of fine-tuning, he will be challenging at the head of the field on the two remaining asphalt events in France and Spain.
The Welshman said: “The mileage and experience here (in Germany) is a massive stepping stone because before this weekend I’d never done a competitive event on Tarmac in a World Rally Car.
“That makes this result very encouraging and if I can work on a few bits and bobs, we should be competitive in France and Spain as well.”
M-Sport team principal, Malcolm Wilson, heaped praise on his young driver after the event. He said: “Elfyn’s performance this weekend has probably been the most encouraging result that I have seen from any young driver. If you look at what he’s done with the experience he has, it’s been a very special result.”