With two rounds of the WRC season completed, Evans has already built a considerable lead in the championship standings. The Welshman finished second in the season opener in Monte-Carlo and secured victory in Rally Sweden just over a week ago.
Among the full-season drivers, Evans’ closest challenger is Kalle Rovanperä, who trails his Toyota teammate by 30 points. Evans is also the only top driver to have reached the podium in both rallies so far this season.
Check the current WRC standings here.
Toyota boss Latvala believes that the removal of hybrid units from Rally1 cars has benefitted Evans—while, on the other hand, it has put Rovanperä at a disadvantage.
“This combination without hybrid, different tyres, it’s not necessarily suiting Kalle’s driving style. Kalle has to adapt now, and I think that’s maybe where it’s coming from. And then I think it’s the combination of new tyres, and without hybrid, which is suiting, on the other hand, Elfyn’s driving style,” Latvala said, according to the official WRC website.
Based on the early stages of the season, Evans has a great opportunity to fight for his first world championship title. Last year, Evans was practically the only Toyota driver with a realistic chance of contending for the championship, but he ultimately could not match Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville.
“Of course, as a team we didn’t want to put him in the situation (in 2024), but we had only two drivers going full-time. And, you know, ‘Taka’ (Takamoto Katsuta) was probably in the situation of still gaining more experience and not ready to fight for the title, so Elfyn knew that he was the only driver fighting for the title. That’s what was loading the pressure,” Latvala explained.
This year, Toyota has three full-time drivers again, with Rovanperä returning as a full-season competitor. According to Latvala, this change has had a positive impact on Evans.
“Elfyn is also more relaxed, I can see that. I feel from the beginning of the year immediately that when he knows that there’s also support from the team – the other drivers – it’s not all on him, so I think that’s also making him more relaxed,” Latvala reflected.
