Like Father, Like Son

The Wales Rally GB is set to be a family affair in 2007, with 18-year old driver Elfyn Evans competing against father Gwyndaf. Evans the younger has proven to be one of the country’s rising rally stars this year, finishing third overall in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy, and he is now relishing the chance to tackle the home round of the World Rally Championship alongside his former British Rally Champion father, who has spent the season driving for the Mitsubishi rally team in the BRC.

Organisers believe it is more than a decade since a father and son competed head on against each other in the event – the most recent being Roger and Matthew Clark in 1995 and Jimmy McRae against both Colin and Alister in 1993. Elfyn and co-driver Richard Edwards will continue to use their trusty Fiesta and have secured backing for the rally from Hankook Tire – the main sponsor of Gwyndaf’s BRC efforts in 2006.

“To be able to compete in Wales Rally GB is going to be amazing and I’m delighted that Hankook is set to be back on a car with an Evans driving again,” said Elfyn. “We have worked hard all year in the Fiesta and to be able to round off a successful season on the world stage is tremendous.” Elfyn says that work is now underway to ensure the car is as strong as possible for the rally, and the Fiesta’s appearance is undergoing a transformation as its Hankook livery is added in preparation for the event.

Hankook motorsports manager Mike Patterson said he was thrilled to be supporting such a promising young driver in Wales Rally GB. “I have been watching Elfyn’s progress this year and his speed and maturity have really been impressive, so he is the ideal candidate to carry the Hankook colours on the world stage,” said Patterson. “And if he can follow in the footsteps of Gwyndaf then he is going to be a real star.”

The rally gets underway in Cardiff on Thursday November 29th with three full days of action in the Welsh forests before finishing back in the Welsh capital on the afternoon of Sunday December 2.