Q: How long have you been rallying for?
A: Since 2006.
Q: What was your first rally car?
A: It was a Nissan Micra.
Q: Which rally would you most like to win and why?
A: Definitely Wales Rally GB, because it is my home event in the [FIA] World Rally Championship.
Q: Which driver, past or present, would you most like to compete against and why?
A: Sébastien Loeb – he has been the ultimate bench-mark for the past 10 years.
Q: What is the best piece of advice you have been given?
A: Make sure you go out and win it.
Q: What is your most memorable rally moment?
A: My first International rally win at the 2011 Bulldog International Rally. It was my first overall victory and only my second event in a 4WD car.
Q: What would you do if you weren’t rallying?
A: It would have to be something in motorsport. Maybe motocross, but I don’t know that I would be as good at that as I seem to be at rallying!
Q: Your father is a rally driver and is the 1996 British Rally Champion, how has he helped you develop your career?
A: My Dad has helped me in lots of ways – but it has been more guidance than the actual driving side of things. There is only so much that you can teach someone when it comes to driving technique. But when it comes to analysing an event and looking for ways to improve, he has helped me a lot.
Q: What is the most important thing you have gained from the FIA WRC Academy this year?
A: The main thing I have learnt is to concentrate on doing your own thing and not to get drawn into what the others are doing. This season in particular has taught me to stick to your own plan and not to get distracted by what is going on around you.
Q: How does it feel to have won the Championship so dominantly*?
A: It is an amazing feeling. To win four rounds on the trot, I don’t think I could have asked for much more! But we still have a lot of work to do and are really looking forward to continuing the learning curve and making more improvements next year.
Q: Have you found the WRC Academy training useful? Which aspects in particular?
A: We learnt something from every session, but the ‘Meet the Driver’ sessions have to be up there. It was a fantastic opportunity to get the chance to listen to the pros and hear what they had to say about a particular rally and about their rallying careers in general.
Q: With the Championship already secured, what is your plan for Spain? Flat-out?
A: No, there’s still a lot of work to do! We need to make sure we learn the event and get as much experience as we can for next season. The approach will be pretty similar to the previous rounds – run our own rally, and if we get a win at the end, it will be a bonus. I have a new co-driver in Seb [Marshall], so we’ll be working on building our relationship in the car to make sure it is as strong as it can be.
QUICK FIRE QUESTIONS…
Q: Gravel or asphalt?
A: Tough question! I enjoy both surfaces, but if I have to choose, gravel.
Q: Twitter or Facebook?
A: Facebook.
Q: Book or film?
A: Film.
Q: Tea or Coffee?
A: Tea, with milk.
Q: Where do you live?
A: In a house.
Q: What is your job?
A: I’m a Service Manager in a car dealership back home in Wales.
Q: What is your favourite food?
A: Italian.
Q: What’s your favourite music?
A: I’m pretty easy going when it comes to music – I like a bit of everything really.
Q: What are you scared of?
A: Snakes.
Q: If you were an animal, what animal would you be?
A: Anything fast.
Q: Tell us something about your new co-driver.
A: He’s really tall.
Q: If you were stuck on a desert island, which three items would you take with you?
A: A rally car, fuel and tyres – and maybe some sunglasses if the weather is good.
*Subject to official confirmation of the results by the FIA.
Related posts:
- Elfyn Evans wins again in Pirelli-backed WRC Academy
- Dominant performance sees Elfyn Evans maiden FIA WRC Academy victory
- Elfyn Evans tames the tarmac in Germany to take three in a row
- Victory seals the deal for Elfyn Evans in Rallye de France 2012
- FIA WRC Academy – Interview with Chris Duplessis
- Elfyn Evans set for Neste Oil Rally Finland after SM O.K Auto-Ralli
- FIA WRC Academy interview with Alastair Fisher
- Fearless in Finland: Elfyn Evans makes it two
- FIA WRC Academy interview with Pontus Tidemand
- Elfyn Evans breaks Fiesta R2 record with the best ever WRC finish
