Second Sunday in Catalonia, Elfyn Evans, back to 17 points from Sébastien Ogier, can still consider combing the French on the wire for the title of world champion. The Welshman is nevertheless aware that his teammate will have to know a problem so that he can slash the champagne for the first time in his career.
Sébastien Ogier missed a first match point in Finland. He also let pass the second, last weekend in Catalonia, where Thierry Neuville, relieved of all pressure (the Belgian had given up all hope of being champion in Kenya), beat the pawn to all his competitors, including Elfyn Evans. Second, the Welshman took the opportunity to grab the backlog (he picked up seven points) which separates him from Sébastien Ogier and thus come back 17 lengths from his French teammate and still leader of the World Championship. However, if Evans can still hope to cap the seven-time world champion at the post and thus deprive him of an eighth world coronation, the runner-up of Ogier overall before the final round of the season, at the beginning of December (3 to 6), knows that he would have had to win in Catalonia, as he had done in Finland on the land of Kalle Rovanperä, to be able to really claim to play his first world title on this final meeting. Hence his frustration on Sunday evening after crossing the finish line.
Evans wants to believe it anyway
“This weekend was very frustrating, had also admitted Evans hot. It should have been better to be honest (…) We have to make sure that we are better prepared for Monza and that we can fight for the victory. “The victory but nothing more, laments the Welshman, aware that to play a nasty trick on Ogier, he will have to count on a hard blow for the French, and even more than on a failure of his rival. “It will take a mistake or a problem with ‘Seb’ for us to be champions at the end. “However, the vice-world champion of last year appreciates being” still alive “. “We also know that” Seb “is an intelligent guy and that something quite major will be needed to surpass him,” adds nevertheless the one who had found himself in the position of the French in 2020 at the dawn of the last. rally of the year. Evans was then 14 points ahead of Ogier before making contact at Monza. The Habs had known how to reverse the situation. What to let think to the Welsh, not very optimistic so far, that “anything can happen”. Even more if his teammate and title holder gives him a hand.