Evans faces a “completely new challenge” in Ypres

The World Rally Championship WRC settles down in Belgium for the first time in its history. Waited for more than a year, the Rally of Ypres takes place this weekend (August 13 to 15). An unprecedented event for a large part of the field including Elfyn Evans, vice-world champion last season.

« Like many drivers, I have never raced at Ypres before. So this is a whole new challenge and we can't be 100% sure what to expect, explains the pilot Toyota. It will be nice to get back on asphalt, but it's very different from what we had last time in Croatia ».

If he is counting on the Belgian meeting to make up part of his deficit in the championship, the Welshman still wants to be wary before the start. The man guided by Scott Martin is indeed expecting some difficulties on the Flemish roads.

« At first the roads can seem quite simple as there aren't a huge number of turns, just lots of straight lines and very tight junctions. But what's pretty obvious after our testing is that there are a lot of surface and grip changes. So there are a little more difficulties in reality ».

Relegated to 37 points behind his teammate and championship leader, Sébastien Ogier, Elfyn Evans hopes to stand out in order to climb back into the rankings. “ I didn't perform as well as I wanted in the last two rallies (Kenya and Estonia), we are therefore aiming for a good result ».

The Ypres Rally will be followed in live text throughout the weekend on AUTOhebdo.