Evans calls on more ERC Ceredigion help

The principality returned to the ERC roster when JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion formed round seven of the eight-event season from 30 August - 1 September.  

But the FIA World Rally Championship frontrunner has called on more to be done to help the volunteer organising team make the asphalt event even better in the future.  

He said: “This rally has stood out since it started back in 2019. As a set of organisers, they were prepared to do something really different, think outside the box and really create something special. They’ve achieved, in the space of four years when you take away Covid, an event at European level already so that speaks volumes. It’s credit to the small group of organisers.   

“But, for me, the governing body [Motorsport UK] needs to get behind it a bit more. I’m quite friendly with some of the organisers and I know they really pour their heart and soul and all their spare time and all their holidays and days off work they probably can’t afford to make this happen. The reality is it’s come to a stage now where it won’t be sustainable because those people won’t be able to carry on with it forever. At some point we need to find more support to prop up these types of events, otherwise we’re at risk of losing them again.”

Although his WRC commitments with Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT on EKO Acropolis Rally meant he could only visit JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion’s ceremonial start in Aberystwyth on Friday afternoon, the 35-year-old was impressed by what he saw.  

“I was preparing a lot for Greece so I couldn’t spend too much time there, unfortunately, but I went down on Friday to the start and the event gave me a huge amount of pride. The roads are fantastic, you don’t really find these kinds of roads anywhere else in the world, and it’s great to have an event of this calibre back home again.”   

Evans will be in action when Rally Chile Biobío takes place as round 11 of the 13-event WRC season from today (Thursday) until Sunday. Meanwhile, Rally Silesia in Poland is gearing up to host the ERC season showdown from 11 - 13 October.