Sébastien Ogier has taken the lead from Elfyn Evans just when running first could be an advantage
Photography by Toyota
Words by Luke Barry
When Elfyn Evans guides his Toyota out of the service park in Passau next month, it’ll be just the third time this season that he’s not the first car out on Friday.
The problem is: now’s one of the few times he’d actually rather be due three minutes earlier.
Although a solid ice base didn’t make first-on-the-road such a punishment in Sweden (where Evans won), generally as perennial championship leader the Welshman has battled the worst of the road conditions in his pursuit of that maiden World Rally Championship title.
Sébastien Ogier meanwhile dodged the trips to Sweden and Kenya and therefore entered the European gravel season with a few cars ahead of him. Over time, he’s climbed up that road order and therefore the championship table, with Chile his moment to pounce into the lead ahead of Evans by just two points.
And that’s significant not just because it makes Ogier the championship leader, but because he’s inherited the baton of running first at the precise point (ahead of two Tarmac rallies) where it’s potentially an advantage – certainly not a disadvantage.
Evans has spent most of 2025 sweeping the stages clean for his rivals - including Ogier
Nobody would begrudge that frustrating Evans, but he’s feeling relaxed about the situation ahead of Central European Rally.
Asked if running second will compromise him, the Toyota driver told DirtFish: “It depends a lot on the conditions. I mean if it’s not very, very wet and very, very muddy, I don’t think it’s going to hurt us too bad.
“At the end of the day, I just look forward to the Tarmac rounds now. It’s rounds that we’ve done well on before and [we’re] just focused on doing the best we can there. We have to just get on with the job.”
That job is far from simple when he’s taking on an opponent in as rich a vein of form as Ogier. In eight starts Ogier has won five times and is yet to finish on the podium. Evans meanwhile is yet to beat Ogier at any of those eight rallies he’s competed in.
Those don’t make for great odds, but having led the championship by a defendable margin into the 2020 season finale only to see it slip away, Evans knows nothing is guaranteed in this game.
Does he feel like this is his year?
“Who knows?” he said. “We never know in this game how things play out. All I know is that I’ll give it my best shot and whatever comes will come.”
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date September 30, 2025 DirtFish
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