Elfyn Evans is in pole position to claim the 2023 WRC title, but a major challenge awaits him at Rally Italia Sardinia. With a 17-point lead over his closest rival, the Toyota driver must stay alert, especially with loose gravel conditions that could disadvantage him as the road opener.
Tom Fowler, Toyota's Technical Director, revealed that the biggest pressure is on Evans. "The biggest pressure has to be on Elfyn," Fowler told DirtFish. "If this were a Tarmac rally, I'd say he's in a fantastic position. But Sardinia is incredibly difficult for the leader because there's no margin to back off."
The main issue is gravel sweeping. As the first car on the road, Evans has to clear loose stones, costing him time. It's not just about the overall result, but how a poor Friday could ruin his chances of scoring 10 extra points on Sunday – five from the day's classification and five from the powerstage.
Fowler stressed the importance of road position for Saturday and Sunday. "Friday isn't about winning the rally, but about winning a new road position that allows you to unlock part of those ten points on Sunday," he explained. "If you fall back into a road position that puts you near the front again, you not only struggle to score points from the rally itself but also those extra points on Sunday."
Meanwhile, his main rival, Sami Pajari, is considered to be under no pressure. According to Fowler, Pajari wasn't even in the title picture until his three consecutive wins in the second half of the season. "Sami has done a fantastic job. He probably didn't expect to be in this position a couple of months ago. So he can go into it thinking: I've already done fantastically, whatever happens is okay," Fowler added.
Evans must stay sharp from day one to ensure a favorable road position for the next two days. This is a test of mental strength and strategy for the Welshman, who has never won the world title. With pressure from Pajari and Oliver Solberg just four points behind, any mistake could be costly.
Rally Italia Sardinia will be the decider. For Evans, overcoming the gravel sweeping challenge is key to paving his way to the title. Can he handle it? We await the action on the stages.
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