Evans has already collected an impressive 61 championship points from the first two rounds of the season and leads the drivers’ standings. Evans finished second in the season-opening Monte Carlo Rally and won the Rally Sweden in February.
This week, Evans has already begun preparations for the Safari Rally in Kenya, which takes place in late March. To prepare for Kenya, Evans tested in Portugal. However, he openly admitted that the tests did not prepare him in the best possible way for Kenya.
“It is almost impossible to find roads anywhere that match the ones awaiting us in Kenya. So, to be honest, these tests were more about getting used to driving this car on gravel again,” Evans said frankly.
This time, however, getting used to it was more necessary than usual. The last gravel rally was held towards the end of last year, and the Rally1 car has undergone a significant change since then.
“Of course, we haven’t driven these cars on gravel since the hybrid units were removed. So now, it’s more about finding the right balance, and of course, we still have a lot to learn about Hankook’s new tyres. Naturally, Kenya was on our minds here, but it’s difficult to find roads that match it,” Evans continued.
Hankook’s new tyres have so far proven to be very effective. They have withstood the demands of snow and tarmac well, but Kenya presents a completely different challenge compared to the first two rounds of the season.
“Kenya is one of the toughest rallies on the WRC calendar, so the durability of the new tyres will truly be put to the test there. We know it’s not the most abrasive rally for the tyres, so in that sense, they get an easier start, but at the same time, they face a big test in terms of how well they resist punctures,” Evans anticipated.
