Elfyn Evans to Test Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 in Scotland Ahead of WRC Return

WRC championship leader Elfyn Evans will be back behind the wheel this weekend, but not at a regular round. He heads to the Grampian Forest Rally, a gravel event that serves as a perfect rehearsal before Rally Scotland joins the WRC calendar next year.

Evans’ presence in Scotland is more than just a warm-up. The Toyota driver will pilot a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, a car he has never driven in official competition. It’s a key moment: how will a factory ace adapt to a Rally2 machine on unfamiliar terrain?

“I know very little about the stages up there so, of course, I’d be interested in any opportunities to learn something for the future,” Evans said, signaling his serious intent to use this event to understand Scottish roads.

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He won’t be alone. M-Sport Ford’s Jon Armstrong will push hard in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, while WRC2 stars Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin will campaign Lancia Rally2 machinery. Estonia’s Romet Jurgenson, also with M-Sport, gets another chance to build valuable experience after competing in last year’s Grampian Forest Rally.

Canada’s Brandon Semenuk will also aim to challenge the WRC regulars, making this a fiercely competitive entry list. It’s more than a warm-up; it’s a strategic test that could shape the 2026 season.

Motorsport UK event director Colin Clark told the BBC that some of this year’s stages will also feature in next year’s Rally Scotland. “We will be watching closely as to how these drivers are performing on the stages and then we have a good insight as to the sorts of areas that we would like to be taking the rally next year across Aberdeenshire and into Moray as the route is coming together,” Clark said.

The Grampian Forest Rally begins Friday evening with two special stages. The remaining eight stages will be contested on Saturday. Meanwhile, the rest of the WRC stars are enjoying the summer break. The championship resumes in three weeks’ time at Rally Paraguay.