As tradition dictates, this year’s 14-round FIA World Rally Championship kicks off later this week on the treacherous mountain roads high up in the Alps above Monte Carlo.

The UK’s hopes once again rest on the experienced shoulders of Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin. Since joining Toyota Gazoo Racing at the start of 2020, the pair have won eight WRC rounds and finished runner-up in the title race no fewer than four times. It goes without saying that they are aiming to finish one place higher in 2025.

That said, while limited in number, this year’s opposition will be even tougher. Kalle Rovanperä, who won back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023, returns for a full campaign alongside Evans at Toyota while Hyundai has strengthened its attack.

Thierry Neuville returns as defending champion together with Ott Tänak who won the title in 2019. They are now joined by 2023 British Rally Champion, Adrien Fourmaux, who has left M-Sport Ford after an impressive WRC campaign with the Cumbrian team in 2024. M-Sport’s line-up now features Grégoire Munster and young Irishman Josh McErlean who came to prominence when lifting the British Junior Rally Championship title in 2019.

Toyota’s squad for the season opener also includes local hero Sébastien Ogier. Though now only contesting selected WRC rounds, the eight-time World Champion has amassed a record-breaking nine Monte wins and will be gunning for yet another victory come Sunday.

“It’s the start of a new year and, as always, our expectations are to try to do our best and to win,” stated Evans who ended last season on a high by winning the final round in Japan to secure the prized Manufacturers’ crown for Toyota.

The famous Monte Carlo Rally, though, is one of the toughest and most unpredictable on the WRC calendar. Evans has twice finished on the podium, but no British driver has won the Alpine classic since the late Vic Elford way back in 1968.

“Monte is always an extremely challenging rally,” confirmed the 36-year-old Welshman who is one of the many successful graduates of the Motorsport UK Academy to be flourishing on the world stage. As, indeed, is his co-driver Martin.

“Adapting to the conditions is always the key – making the right tyre calls at the right time. And, of course, staying out of trouble. We know how difficult it is, and how easy it is to make a small mistake. Easier said than done but we will go there and give it our best,” he vowed.

This year’s WRC has a further revised points system and, making life even harder for Elfyn et al, there has been a switch from Pirelli to Hankook rubber over the winter break. With limited pre-event practice permitted, tyre choice is likely to be trickier than ever.

“For the Monte, we have the biggest choice of tyres available and with the very little testing we have nowadays it has been very difficult to try those tyres in different conditions. We will have some experience but not the full picture,” admitted the Welshman.

“We’ll have some learning to do on all the surfaces but it’s the same for everyone. We will just have to be as ready as possible and do the best job we can – If we do that well at the start of the season that should be a big help.”