by Rob Wilkins
Gwyndaf Evans has said that his son Elfyn has exceeded his expectations this season.
Elfyn, who has recently confirmed he will do the Wales Rally GB, thanks to the support of Hankook tyres, only took in his first ever rally in 2006.
This season though the 18-year-old has impressed in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy UK series and he eventually finished third overall in the standings.
"I am a bit surprised to be honest," Evans Sr told
Crash.net Radio recently at the Castle Combe Rallyday when asked about his son's form.
"Yes he has performed well and yes he did a bad mistake on the Pirelli Rally, which cost me a lot of money, but on the whole his progress has been very steady. He has come along in leaps and bounds and he has certainly done enough.
"I promised him two years of support if he behaved this year and performed reasonably, and he is certainly doing that.
"Now the fastest times are beginning to come from him and he is showing that he has improved immensely. We didn't think for one minute he would do this well so soon when we started in the championship. We thought if he could nip into the top five in the times by the end of the season that would be good enough. It has been a good season for him."
As for next year, Gwyndaf added that Elfyn will probably do another year in the FST UK series, although he warned that he can't finance his son's programme indefinitely.
"If we can put the budget together we will probably do the same next year, but I can't keep doing it forever," added Evans Sr. "I do think though that the championship is good enough and competitive enough to know, if you can win that comprehensively, then you are good enough to go on in the sport – and if you can't, maybe you don't quite have what it takes.
"Next year will be very interesting, but certainly I won't be holding him back. I have held him back this year because I am desperate for him to do the mileage and get the experience."
