Evans wants SEAT to leave in a blaze of glory

The Welshman, who joins Didier Auriol, Toni Gardemeister and Harri Rovanpera in the swan-song appearance for the marque's Cordoba WRC E3 before it ditches its WRC ambitions, says he is aiming for a top-six position in his home forests.

"I'm going to give it my best shot," Evans told Autosport's sister publication Motoring News. "If driving it flat out all the way through the rally takes more out of the car than it's got to give, then I'm sorry about that - but that's what I'm going to do."

The 1996 British champion tested in Spain last week, where he finalised his settings for the Welsh forest-based Rally GB.

"We've made so much progress with the car," he said. "Everybody's been working hard to get it right for this event and I've got a good feeling. We're closer to the top cars than we have been. I'm not sure this car is a Focus or Peugeot-beater but I think we could make the top six.

"Coming from Wales doesn't really make that much difference for this event," he added. "The rally doesn't go that far north and drivers like Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae will have just as much experience of those Welsh stages as I've got. Obviously, it will be nice to have home support."

Evans' testing contract with SEAT ends in December, but he remains optimistic of landing a testing role with another manufacturer. Should the Spanish company enter the new-look British Rally Championship with a WRC Cordoba next season, the former SEAT BRC star could be in the frame for a programme.