We’re proud to have a strong sporting pedigree in Wales. Welsh athletes have taken gold medals and won world titles in a wide range of disciplines, from sailing to cycling to kickboxing.
But we now have a new sporting triumph to add to that list, as Elfyn Evans, from Dolgellau in North Wales, has become the first Welsh person to win a World Rally Championship.
To be crowned a world champion in the high-octane motorsport, drivers have to accrue the most points across a full season, with points handed out based on where a driver finishes during a given race, which take place on tracks winding through forests and countryside. Going into the final race of this season, held on the Italian island of Sardinia, Elfyn was sitting in second place overall, and it looked certain he’d finish the competition as runner up – an outcome he has had to endure on five occasions previously.
However, as his primary rival Oliver Solberg, headed into the home stretch of the race, he veered wildly off course, handing the title to Elfyn in dramatic fashion.
As a result, Elfyn became only the third British man to win the motorsport competition, and the first in 25 years.
Born and raised in the town of Dolgellau, Elfyn is the son of former British rally champion, Gwyndaf Evans, who was trackside when Elfyn was crowned champion, sparking jubilant celebrations, heightened by the many years of near-misses.
Speaking to the BBC after the win, Elfyn said, ‘It hasn't sunk in. It wasn’t the easiest weekend for us but thankfully we had a pretty good season in the lead up to this event, which gave us a bit of a buffer and we just about managed to hold on at the end. It was an incredible finish.’
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