Evans: “Ger Conway did an exceptional job on the notes” in Donegal

Evans: “Ger Conway did an exceptional job on the notes‘

Phots by D Harrigan Images

Meirion Evans came to within 20.5 seconds of winning the Wilton Donegal International Rally (19-22 June) after a sensational drive in his Castrol MEM Rally Team Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

He eventually equalled last year’s result by finishing second on the iconic Irish event.

Co-driven by Ger Conway, Meirion moved from fifth to second after the opening two stages before settling into a fast rhythm that would see him challenge for victory throughout the three day, 20 stage and 170.25 stage mile event.

The 29-year old Welshman held third place at the end of day one, just 15.2 seconds off the lead and 0.2 seconds ahead of his team-mate after a fast and controlled drive.

Meirion held that position for much of day two, despite losing time with a puncture on SS9. Equal fastest time on the final stage of the day (SS14) moved him up to second, just 21.8 seconds behind the leader.

Meirion then fought back from a small overshoot at the start of the third and final day to record two fastest, two second fastest and one third fastest time on the final five stages to reduce the gap to the leader from 30.1 seconds (after SS15) to just 20.5 seconds at the finish, to finish runner-up (behind Callum Devine/Noel O’Sullivan) for the second time on one of the Irish Tarmac Championship’s most demanding events.

Meirion Evans said: “Overall, we have to be happy with our performance in Donegal.

“The level from the start of the event was so high, you had to be on the pace from the word go.

“We had a pretty smooth event with no mistakes. The car worked well throughout and despite a puncture on the second pass of the Glen stage on Saturday morning we still held third position and ended up second overnight.

“It was always going to be difficult to catch Callum [Devine] on Sunday and it didn’t help that we had a slight overshoot on the first stage of the day. We took some time back over the rest of the day, but not quite enough.

“Overall, it was a very positive weekend. We kept on the lead pace over the three days and never put a mark on the car, which is good.

“Thanks to Castrol, the boys in the team and everyone who helped get us to Donegal and thanks to Ger [Conway] who did an exceptional job on the notes. It’s nice when a long rally goes without any hiccups. It would have been nice to win, but considering the high quality entry it wasn’t going to be easy and I think we did a good job.

---

---