Elfyn Evans Tests Toyota Before Rally Estonia 2026

Elfyn Evans will use the Louna Eesti Rally as part of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT’s testing programme ahead of the 2026 Rally Estonia. The WRC championship leader views the national event as important preparation for returning to high-speed gravel competition.

The programme follows the approach previously used by Toyota through the Arctic Lapland Rally before Rally Sweden. The Louna Eesti Rally features only 10 special stages and slightly more than 88 competitive kilometres, but its characteristics provide an opportunity to evaluate rhythm, set-up and car response before the world championship round.

“It’s always nice to go and do a national rally. Especially with such a fast rally coming up, it helps get your mind into the right gear, particularly after an event like Greece,” Evans told Rally Journal.

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The competitive distance of the Louna Eesti Rally is approximately equivalent to the final day of the Acropolis Rally Greece. Its main value, however, is not its length but the opportunity for Evans and Toyota to transition from Greece’s rougher and slower conditions towards the high speeds expected in Estonia one week later.

Evans remains cautious about his prospects in Estonia because the weather could alter grip levels and the effect of the starting order. Rain can make the stages more unpredictable, while changing surface conditions may increase or reduce the advantage available to each driver depending on road position.

“We’ll have to wait and see what the weather does. Estonia can also be quite challenging in that respect, as we’ve seen in the past. We’ll prepare as well as we can,” Evans said.

As championship leader, Evans will again run first on the road during the opening leg of Rally Estonia. That position could cost time if loose gravel remains on the surface, while competitors starting further back may benefit from a cleaner line and a stronger opportunity to collect maximum points.

Evans expects his championship advantage to decrease across the coming rounds as the road order gives his closest rivals an opportunity to apply greater pressure. The Louna Eesti Rally is therefore an important part of Toyota’s technical and mental preparation before Estonia, where the title contest could begin to tighten significantly.