Evans: Career-best finish boosts confidence after tough season
M-Sport's Elfyn Evans says his breakthrough Rally France result will help his confidence, having struggled for form since his maiden WRC podium in Argentina.
Elfyn Evans and Daniel Barrit, M-Sport Ford Fiesta WRC
XPB Images
Evans led the 2015 edition of the Tour de Corse after the opening day and eventually finished second behind Jari-Matti Latvala, narrowly holding off Andreas Mikkelsen on the final leg.
In doing so, the Welshman posted a career-best finish in the World Rally Championship, surpassing his previous best result of third place in this year's Rally Argentina.
He has had two retirements since Argentina, both of them due to mechanical failures, falling from fourth to seventh in the standings as a result.
"It's obvious it has not been the year we wanted after Argentina," Evans said. "So this certainly won't do any harm [for confidence].
"My performance is getting stronger on tarmac, not as strong as on gravel but it's getting better. I am growing in confidence."
Team boss Malcolm Wilson was full of praise for Evans after the rally, saying: "We have witnessed an absolutely stunning drive from Elfyn this weekend.
"Not only has he secured his best result to date, but also his second podium of the year as well as the team’s best result of the season.
"To say that he and the team deserve this result is a real understatement. It really is fantastic to see all that hard work yielding a result as impressive as this one – which puts us right back in the fight for second place in the manufacturers’ championship."
With two rallies to go, Evans sits as the top Ford driver in the drivers' standings, 18 clear of teammate Ott Tanak, while his M-Sport squad occupies fourth place among the manufacturers - trailing Citroen and Hyundai by 14 and 13 points respectively.
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