M-Sport's Richard Millener reckons erstwhile points leader's performances have been better than they might appear
Photography by Toyota
Words by Luke Barry & David Evans
Elfyn Evans may have seen a once 43-point championship lead turn into a one-point deficit, but M-Sport team principal Richard Millener believes the Toyota driver’s not getting the credit he deserves.
Evans opened the season with two wins and two further podiums, but has suffered as the first car on the road on each of the past four events (Portugal, Sardinia, Acropolis and Estonia), restricting his potential. But, having struggled for ultimate pace in Estonia to finish sixth, the Welshman was left feeling he could’ve done more.
“Of course I’m disappointed,” Evans told DirtFish. “We knew that the last three were going to be tough, even if they were more tough than we hoped. We hoped Estonia would be better.
“Clearly it’s not really been the case, it’s been worse if anything. And so, yeah, of course it’s just disappointment at the moment. But we have to try and find something and come to Finland in a good place.”
However, Evans has a supporter in Millener, who feels Evans was “one of the star drivers” in Estonia.
Millener told DirtFish: “He is just never giving up again at the moment and he is pounding in the times to try and make sure he goes away from the rally with everything he possibly can, and that’s the kind of determination we’ve seen from Thierry [Neuville] and [Sébastien] Ogier in the past.
“You’re not going to get every rally as you want it but as long as you go away with solid points, finish all the rallies, you’re going to still be in the fight. Yes, he’s now lost the championship lead by a point but I would expect this to happen about this point in the season and then it could swing again if you go the other way.
“So I think actually all the discussions we have about running orders and points and championship things – leave it alone because it’s clearly proven again that we have a good championship with what we’ve got at the minute.”
Millener’s comments are in conflict with Evans’ self-critical assessment, but the M-Sport man pointed to his drivers Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean’s performances when they were the first two cars on the roads in Estonia as evidence.
“We’ve seen how hard it was for our guys,” Millener explained.
Grégoire Munster found life in Estonia's loose gravel tough en route to 10th overall
“So he [Evans] did the full first day, long day, first on the road. He had a fairly average road position for the next two days and kept battling away. So I think he’s done better than maybe people give him credit for.
“I’ve already seen some stuff where people say they don’t think he’s doing well at the moment. But he’s come away from the last three rallies with solid results, and that’s what he’s had to do.
“Some people may exclude him from the championship already, but no chance for me. He’s right in there, right where he needs to be.”
Evans will be relieved of road-sweeping duties at this week’s Rally Finland – that burden instead falling upon Ott Tänak who leads the world championship in a Hyundai for the very first time.
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: Elfyn Evans, Richard Millener, WRC, WRC 2025
Publish Date July 29, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/07/Asz47Pt0-EVANS08EST25tb331-780x520.jpg July 29, 2025
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