March 28, 2024

Elfyn Evans

Elvin Evans to miss Classic Rally/World Rally Championship

The 2023 World Rally Championship calendar with 14 possible rounds is currently under discussion, and Toyota driver Elvin Evans is a little worried, he is missing out on the rally classic.

Welshman Elfyn Evans is not a silent person, as he says what he thinks. That’s why he thinks there are a few things that need to be said now and then, including his criticism of the 2023 World Rally Championship. This calendar is currently being discussed at the highest level. It’s an important moment for the series and for the sport. It represents the next step in finding a balance between work, heritage, leisure and commerce. But he also offers criticism.

The classics are missing

It is becoming more and more accepted that next month will be Spain’s last place in the World Cup, and certainly next season. It would be hard to describe Catalonia as an enduring classic when it comes to heart-pounding dramas, but it has always been a hugely popular starring tour. In 2023, previously important WRC pillars such as Germany (due to ADAC’s own fault), France (neither Corsica nor Alsace), Great Britain (neither Wales nor Northern Ireland) and then Spain will be lost. This is at the heart of Evans’ concerns.

“There has been a great deal of hacking and calendar changes over the past few years,” Evans said. “Obviously we understand the restrictions that COVID has put in place during 2020 and 2021, and the promoter and the FIA ​​have done a good job of keeping that thing going, but I think we have to be careful with some of the classic gatherings. Some of them have been removed from the calendar in favor of some other events.” .

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Gather where it inspires you

Evans, the still standing vice-champion continues: “For me, it’s just right to go where the gravity lies. Ypres, for example, might not be somewhere where we’re all screaming that there are the best experiences or whatever, but sport is needed. Certainly there is. We cannot ignore that. At the same time, I fully understand the business side and we need to introduce new, well-funded events, what I want to say is not to forget the classics. Places where sport is desirable, places like Argentina should be in the championship.”

Evans recently berated British motorsport’s governing body for not doing enough to compete in a round of the UK-based series, and the GP Rally is another example of an absent classic.

Evans continued: “I don’t want to sound like I’m just talking about Britain, but you understand what I mean. A lot of people, a lot of fellow French or people from other parts of the world have told me that starting the year in Monte Carlo still seems right, but not Finishing it in Wales is totally wrong. I can totally see the point. The downside to that is our last tour in Japan this year. Honestly, I couldn’t be more excited to go to Japan. We’ve been close for a few years now, but this year it’s going to happen and it will be Great. The excitement in this sport, the fans and everything, it’s going to be great. It’s a tough job, but we have to find a balance.”

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A Toyota driver couldn’t be healthier on either point. It is a difficult task and we have to find a balance. One of the things Jean Todt has said while visiting the WRC service park on occasion is that he intends to bring the world back to the World Rally Championship.

That should mean the return of America (Mexico, Chile or Argentina, with the US approaching) and the Middle East (Saudi Arabia). These are the must-haves for the upcoming season.

The classics earned their place and added context to the WRC’s structure. But we also need to open our eyes and prepare to welcome new investments and a whole host of new fans. Elvin is absolutely right: we need the Monte Carlo Rally.