Elfyn Evans admits that he will continue having the approach he had in 2025 despite the fact that he was beaten by his teammate Sebastien Ogier at the WRC title bid.
Evans started his 2025 season in a positive way as he secured one podium in Monte Carlo and two wins in Sweden and Kenya. He managed to have a big gap compared to his title rivals at the end of Safari Rally, but he was forced to control his championship lead after Rally Islas Canarias as the season included seven consecutive gravel rallies starting with Rally de Portugal. His title rivals, Sebastien Ogier, Kalle Rovanpera and Ott Tanak, managed to cut Evans's lead while three drivers remained to fight for the 2025 WRC title at the end of Rally Japan. Evans headed to Rally Saudi Arabia with a three-point advantage over Ogier, but Evans's chances slimmed when he suffered from a puncture on Friday. Eventually, Ogier managed to get his ninth WRC crown and to beat Evans for four points in Jeddah despite the fact that he had a part-time programme with Toyota.
"I don't know if I will change fully my approach, but I think there were a few cases last year where we were fighting, let's say, and I maybe didn't stress so much to beat Ogier at the start of the year given his part-time campaign remit", Evans said.
"But now, obviously, we know the score.
"You always know that every point counts, and of course you want to win, but maybe you don't break your balls to try and beat him.
"If we're in that same position again, then maybe you have to treat it a little differently.
"He still did many rallies less, so that's not an advantage at the end of the day.
"But I just need to be aware that the situation can change during the year and I guess it's a lesson that every point counts.
"I think at certain moments last year I was maybe a bit calculated on the gravel, but at the same time, they were positions where if you took a lot of risk, maybe you'd find one or two more points, but really the position wasn't going to change.
"I found myself running first on the road and struggling, and therefore having very little chance by the end of Friday, and then, what's the point to push all Saturday then, in a way, because you're not going to catch anybody if you're in that position.
"There's many moments you can pick in the season. You can say in Portugal and Sardinia, we were pathetically slow.
"That side definitely is the area to really focus on because that's clearly the part where the performance was not the same as everywhere else, these dry gravel rallies, especially Portugal, Sardinia, Greece - they were the ones that were most tough.
"I think we already have a better base set-up to start with now than what we had, assuming it still works in Portugal and Sardinia, but it should be better at least.
"Of course, on Sundays, there were opportunities where I didn't capitalise fully. I'm sure everybody can say that at some moments, but I don't see too much changing in my approach".
Source: wrc.com
Photo Credits: Toyota
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