Toyota’s Elfyn Evans started Rally Monte Carlo well, leading the competition in the early stages, but then difficulties began.
Evans’s pace waned, and he ultimately fell behind Hyundai’s winner Thierry Neuville and teammate Sebastien Ogier.
Evans himself admitted that he “surrendered” and wanted to just bring the car home and thereby score as many points as possible for his team.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala has now commented on the matter.
“Making the points was the right decision,” Latvala said on the World Rally Championship’s website.
“You can remember what happened and how Elfyn felt when he went off the road (in 2022). He wanted to take good points away from here and he did that – I know that’s what he wanted when he went off two years ago,” Latvala continued.
“He’s thinking about the championship and, for me, that’s what he needs to do.”
Evans’s decision was also a result of the conditions. It simply made no sense for the Welshman to go on a rampage, taking risks unnecessarily.
“His car was working well on the clean road, but when the cuts were coming and the road was dirtier, he couldn’t get the same feeling. He backed off and took the points,” Latvala said.
The season continues this week in Sweden.
“This way he goes to Sweden with a good feeling. Okay, the road position can still be tricky, but it’s easier to go to round two,” Latvala remarked, referring to the points Evans had amassed.
