The Welshman, who has enjoyed a strong and consistent season, returned to the top of the drivers’ standings at the Central European Rally. He now leads the championship by 13 points over his team-mates Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier.
Evans has a great chance of another top result at Rally Japan, an event that has suited him extremely well in recent years. He celebrated victory there in both 2023 and 2024. According to him, the challenge this time will be very similar to previous years.
“Some sections are actually a bit cleaner, but with fewer leaves. I think tomorrow we’ll have to see how the weather plays along and what it’ll be like in the morning,” Evans previewed.
From a championship perspective, Evans will have a clear advantage over his rivals in Japan, as he will be the first car on the road.
“It’s so important. I don’t think—actually, I don’t even know. In some cases, maybe the road can evolve for the better in certain places, but I don’t think that’s here nor there either,” he said about his starting position.
Rally Japan features very narrow and demanding asphalt roads where there is no room for mistakes – one error can end everything. Evans is approaching the challenge with calm composure.
“But that’s the same as every rally. We just have to do our best not to make mistakes, obviously, but also to drive quickly and try to be as accurate as we can. It’s not easy here to get the balance right, but that’s the same challenge for everyone, so we have to try,” Evans explained.
Evans knows that a third consecutive victory on Japan’s tarmac stages would take him very close to securing his first world title. The Welshman’s plan for the rally is straightforward.
“Let’s just take as many points as we can. I think it’s simple,” he summed up.
Japan has usually served as the season finale, but this year things are different. After Japan, the championship will head to Saudi Arabia at the end of November. Last year, the situation was very different also because the manufacturers’ title fight was still open – Toyota ultimately sealed that championship on the final stage.
“Last year was a very different situation. In a way, we had nothing to lose because we were way behind, and it was like that. But this year, no — we just have to hopefully get a good feeling and drive from there,” Evans said.
