Elfyn Evans says he emerged from a potentially challenging EKO Acropolis Rally Greece “smelling like roses” after a delivering a smart drive to remain at the top of the WRC standings.
Written by WRC
Evans, who has led the championship since winning Rally Sweden in February, had feared he might lose his championship lead, having to open the road through three rough gravel rallies in Portugal, Sardinia and Greece.
However, the Welshman has driven smartly under challenging conditions to pick up a sixth (Portugal) followed by two fourth-place finishes in Sardinia and Greece to maintain his strong start to the season, that has included wins in Sweden and Kenya.
Last weekend in Greece, Evans once again drove smartly to avoid tyre damage or mechanical issues while benefiting from others’ misfortune to finish fourth in extreme conditions.
“It is a bit like the story of Sardinia – we have come out of the mess smelling like roses; that was the situation. It’s not been the most enjoyable three events, that is for sure,” said Evans.
“It’s been a tough weekend with challenging conditions, but we’ve managed to avoid trouble and finish fourth again – and we also got some Super Sunday points to top up the tally and soften the blow compared to our rivals.
“We knew coming into these last three rough gravel rallies opening the road that it would be possible to lose our lead in the championship, so on that side I’m pleased. Now we move onto a different type of rally where we hope to show some more pace and performance.”
Although disappointed not to be fighting for podiums in the last three events, Evans has crucially kept the scoreboard ticking over at an impressive rate, which is vital for a successful title campaign.
As the championship reaches the halfway mark, Evans has racked up a points average of 21.4 per round, which is higher than that of the previous two champions, Thierry Neuville and Kalle Rovanperä, at this point in the 2024 and 2023 seasons, respectively. Interestingly, Neuville won the title last year – a 13-round season – with a points average of 18.6, while Rovanperä triumphed in 2023 with an average of 19.2 points per round.
How Evans compares to previous champions at halfway
Season
Championship leader after 7 rounds
Points scored after 7 rounds
Points average
2025
Elfyn Evans
150
21.4
2024
Thierry Neuville
136
19.4
2023
Kalle Rovanperä
140
20
*In 2025, a maximum of 35 points per round is on offer, five more than in previous years
While Evans is pleased with the points-scoring return from difficult, rough gravel events, he is aware that he will need to return to fighting for podiums to maintain his title push.
“For sure [scoring points at every round is how you win a title], but you also feel like you need to be regularly on the podium, so let’s see,” he added.
The championship heads to the fast gravel roads of the Delfi Rally Estonia from July 17 to 20.
