Toyota’s WRC team has a new permanent test area this year, which Kalle Rovanperä inaugurated on Tuesday. On Wednesday, it was his teammate Elfyn Evans’ turn to take the wheel of the Toyota Rally1 car in Finland.
Read also: Kalle Rovanperä opened Toyota’s new testing area
Evans put the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 through its paces on an icy road. This test day was crucial for Evans as it allowed him to properly familiarise himself with the new studded tyres from WRC’s new tyre supplier, Hankook.
Once again, Evans’ test day attracted curious onlookers to the stage, eager to witness the Welshman’s spectacular driving.
Watch the videos from Evans’ test day below:
Evans finished second in the season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo, but he heads into Rally Sweden effectively as the championship leader. Monte-Carlo winner Sebastien Ogier will not compete in Sweden, as he is only contesting about half of this season’s WRC events.
Being at the top of the standings means Evans will be the first car on the road for the opening stages of Rally Sweden.
“That can be a challenge if there’s a lot of fresh snow, so it could be a very difficult start to the event for us.”
“But on the other hand, if the conditions are icy, which is not impossible, then it could play into our hands. But let’s wait and see what the conditions are like. If it’s anything like last year, it’s probably going to be difficult, but we’ll be there anyway to give our all regardless of the conditions,” Evans explained.
Among Toyota’s drivers, Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari will also have their test days later this week in preparation for Rally Sweden.
Rally Sweden will take place around Umeå from 13th to 16th February.
