Evans jnr celebrates three Fiesta Sporting Trophy – third place, third podium and third in the championship

Eighteen year old Elfyn Evans reinforced his position as one of the country’s rising rally stars at the weekend with a third podium finish in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy with his result moving him into an impressive third overall in the championship.

The driver, from Dinas Mawddwy, and Wolverhampton co-driver Richard Edwards produced their third podium finish of the season in the Mewla Rally, based on the military roads around Epynt in mid-Wales.

Despite an excursion off the road which lost the pair time and a broken drive shaft the pair brought The Sun Virgin Money Fiesta back to the finish in third place.

“It was a tough event for us so to finish so high overall in the Fiestas is great,’’ said Elfyn. “There were times during the day that I thought a podium would be out of reach but we pushed on and just kept concentrating on our own rally rather than looking at the times of drivers around us.’’

Their concentration paid off with the crew setting the fastest Fiesta time on two of the 13 high speed stages but the podium finish was nearly out of their grasp with a broken drive shaft on the final two stages and a minor off which lost them vital seconds.

“It was a real fright at the end of a long day but the car is extremely strong so we managed to get back to the finish,’’ said Elfyn. “And rallying so close to home meant we had great support out on the stages from friends, family and supporters such as the Trawsdir Caravan and Camping Park which is a new name on the car.’’

The team now has five weeks to prepare the car for a return to gravel as the Fiesta Sporting Trophy moves to Scotland for the McRae Stages on September 29.

In addition to The Sun and Virigin Money, Elfyn is also backed by Mile End Service Station, Garwood Motorsport Services, Trawsdir Caravan and Camping Park and the Trefeddian Hotel at Aberdyfi. The car has been built and prepared by Gwyndaf Evans in Dolgellau.