Crash.net:
This year your son, Elfyn and Meilyr Evans will both drive for GEMsport in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy series in the UK and Ireland. Last season Elfyn finished third in the FSTUK standings. What do you want to see him achieve this season and what do you want to see Meilyr do?
GE:
I want Elfyn to grab the opportunity GEMsport is giving him - and also Meilyr too. I want both of them to make the most of this chance and give their best. They cannot do anymore. I cannot make them win. I can only provide help and provide the tools and support and the backing that GEMsport can give. Ultimately it will be down to them. They will have to drive the car and if they can't win that is not the be all and end all. But certainly they need to apply themselves properly.
Crash.net:
They will be doing the Fiesta Trophy series' in the UK and Ireland. That's quite a comprehensive programme, with 12 events in total...
GE:
It is a massive opportunity for them and a lot of seat time, which is so critical at this age. They cannot drive a competitive vehicle enough at the end of the day. I was very late starting driving but in my early 30s I was in a rally car three or four days a week when I worked for Ford and SEAT etc. That was invaluable. There is no substitute for it and for them to have a 12 rally programme at the beginning of January, and we might add more events too, it is fantastic for them and I just hope they get the best out of it.
Crash.net:
The GEMsport programme is a three-year plan, with this year in the FST and then the BRC in 2009 and the WRC in 2010, isn’t it?
GE:
That is the full intention of GEMsport. It is going to be a preparation company and we are looking at corporate days as well. There are a lot of angles. I have got a commercial partner in
Williams Carey from the Carey Partnership and he is bringing fresh ideas every week I see him. They are, I believe, a breath of fresh air to motorsport because he sees it from different angles to maybe the so-called 'petrol heads' like I probably am.
Crash.net:
In terms of yourself, what will you do this year? Will you compete?
GE:
I certainly won't stand still. I will work very hard and foremost I want GEMsport to work really badly. I really want GEMsport to be a success story and I want the team to be one to look up to. I am certainly not hanging my helmet up though. I will still be doing a lot of driving and tuition with Junior Rallying and with the boys that drive for GEMsport. If there is an opportunity to drive again competitively too I will certainly grasp the chance. At the moment however there is nothing definite in the pipeline.
Crash.net:
Is that something you are still keen to pursue?
GE:
Yes it is, because I still believe I was very competitive last year [in the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship with the Mitsubishi UK 'works' team] and it would be a shame just to finish. If I wasn't competitive last year it would have been easier just to concentrate and not have any aspirations to drive at all. But I still think I have quite a lot to offer.
