Evans moves forward with 208.
After opening his Junior British Rally Championship campaign with a strong fourth place finish on the Border Counties Rally just two weeks ago, Meirion Evans returned to his native Wales for Rally North Wales, to gain all important mileage aboard his new-for-2017 Peugeot 208 R2.
The slippy stages of the Scottish Borders provided the 21-year-old Welshman with a baptism of fire as he acclimatized to his new French machine, a haul of points for fourth place being just reward for his efforts.
In order to gain more test mileage ahead of the second round of the Junior British Rally Championship, the Pirelli Carlisle Rally, Evans and co-driver Jonathan Jackson headed to Dolgellau to tackle 45 miles of classic Welsh forest stages in the Gartheiniog and Dyfi forest complexes. The Melvyn Evans Motorsport run 208 ran faultlessly over the six tests, as used on Britain’s round of the World Rally Championship; Wales Rally GB, allowing the youngster to settle into his new machine and post confidence inspiring times in a range of conditions – the early morning rain making way for uncharacteristically drying conditions in the afternoon.
Six fastest times in class on their way to taking the victory and 11th overall of the Modern vehicles was just reward for the crews determination, coming away from the event very happy with the progress made in such a short period of time;
“This rally was exactly what we needed, the confidence just wasn’t there on the Border Counties and we played it safely to get off the mark with some points. We understood that there was work to be done if we want to fight for a top position on the Pirelli and it made sense for us to use this event to build on our confidence and to get settled in the car. We were on a nice pace from the word go, we didn’t really push hard at all during the day and just drove clean and fast with no major risks and the times we were setting were pleasing knowing we always had a little bit kept in reserve.
It was nice that the stages dried out a bit in the afternoon as it required a slightly different style in the wet so its good to have an understanding of what’s required in every condition now should we encounter it.
We will now focus on the next round and we will try to use our previous experience of the event to try and achieve a good result as I’m starting to feel like my old self in a rally car again!”
Meirion and Jonathan would like to thank all those who continue to support and back their 2017 campaign. The pair will next be in action on the Pirelli Carlisle Rally, round two of the 2017 Prestone MSA British Rally Championship, held in the grueling Kielder Forest complex at the end of April.
Incar on stage 2 of the 2017 Rally North Wales-Big Ray. Fastest in class on our way to a class win and 11th Overall in the moderns
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