by Russell Atkins
British Rally Championship favourite Gwyndaf Evans achieved his 2006 ambition on last weekend’s Wales Rally GB, by clinching the prestigious Mitsubishi Evo Challenge trophy in spectacular style.
The 1996 BRC champion will consequently be thrust very much back into the big time next year, with a works-backed Mitsubishi drive in the series as he aims to recreate past glories. Here the Welshman tells us just what the prize means to him and exactly what he had to overcome in order to claim it.
Q:
2006 Mitsubishi Evo Challenge champion – how does that sound?
Gwyndaf Evans:
It sounds pretty good to me, especially when you realise the depth and extent of the prize. It’s certainly the best prize in European rallying – to receive a works car for a full British Rally Championship campaign is unrivalled.
Q:
How tough has it been not only on this event but also throughout the season?
GE:
The competition has been strong all year, with six to ten very competitive drivers out there and four or five of them really going hard.
Q:
Wales Rally GB was a mixed event for you overall wasn’t it?
GE:
Yes, that’s one way of putting it! I went into stage three on day one with the lead then got a puncture. I went quite hard on stages four, five and six and was overjoyed to be leading the BRC overall at the end of leg one. As I also had a great lead in the Mitsubishi Evo Challenge I thought everything was looking fine. I just had to drive around, just enjoy the stages and not have to go at 100 per cent, but unfortunately the gearbox then packed up on the first stage of the second leg. It’s been a rally of so many highs and so many lows – more than I can remember having in my entire career! I was all packed up ready to go home but the Superally kept us in it.
Q:
How confident were you heading into the rally at the start?
GE:
I was optimistic but I knew it was always a tough event and there were other people hungry to do the same as me. You never get too confident until it’s done. To leave it this late in the season to actually win it – it doesn’t get much more nail-biting than that.
Q:
It must have been particularly sweet to win it in front of your home fans too?
