Phil Mills to act as co-driver for Elfyn Evans at Corsica WRC round
2003 World Rally Champion co-driver Phil Mills will return to top flight rallying alongside Elfyn Evans at next week's Tour of Corsica
Evans' regular co-driver Dan Barritt went through a medical on Saturday - following the sixth-gear crash that ruled him and Evans out of Rally Mexico earlier month - with the decision that the Englishman needed more recovery time before returning to the Ford Fiesta WRC.
Mills retired from the full-time WRC midway through 2010, having won 13 rounds and the 2003 title with Petter Solberg, though has been part of Evans' gravel crew for the past five years.
"It won't be easy without Dan, but his fitness comes first and it's important that he has the time to make a full recovery for the rest of the season," said Evans.
"Phil has stepped in, and I hope that we can push for a good result.
"Phil certainly knows his stuff. Other than Dan, he knows my pacenotes better than anyone and he's certainly no stranger when it comes to winning rallies."
"It's all about adapting to the conditions, and that will be the case even more so for us next week. We'll have a fairly late running order which won't be ideal, and we'll need some time to get used to one another in the car as well.
"We'll just have to see how it goes and do the best we can. I've had some good results here in the past, and I'm keen to see what we can do this year."
Evans has only scored on one of the three rounds so far this season, picking up sixth in Monte Carlo. But Corsica is an event he favours - it was the place he first led a WRC round before finishing second in 2015.
He added: "This is an event that I really enjoy, and we'll be looking to maximise that next week.
"The speed is there, but I've not had the best start to the year and that's something I'm determined to put right in Corsica."
Previous article
Loeb's WRC Corsica preparation more straightforward than for Mexico
Next article
FIA ratifies WRC powerstage rule change to stop tactical check-ins
About this article
| Series | WRC |
| Drivers | Elfyn Evans |
| Author | David Evans |
Why there's no easy fix for Hyundai's operational Achilles Heel
Hyundai Motorsport boss Andrea Adamo was vocal in his criticism of his team's tyre choices on Rally Croatia and declared that he "had better move my ass and solve it". Doing so will be vital to getting Hyundai's 2021 WRC title hopes back on track, but finding the root of the problem won't be the work of a moment
How Ogier held on after a shock bump in the road to triumph in Croatia
Sebastien Ogier was already in an incredibly tight fight at Rally Croatia before a surprise collision with public road traffic at the start of the final day. But the defending champion held his nerve to take a narrow victory and create further World Rally Championship history
Why the casualty of rallying's evolution should still be cherished
The WRC's support categories are in a process of streamlining that will spell the end of a formalised 2WD world championship-level category. While its relevance to the top level has been questioned for some time, that doesn't mean it should be swept quietly under the carpet
Why WRC's hybrid path could leave it at a crossroads
With all three major manufacturers committing to the World Rally Championship’s hybrid era from 2022, the future of the series is assured for now, but it could lead to trickier twists and turns further down the road
How Tanak froze out the competition at the Arctic Rally
Ott Tanak made up for a disastrous Monte Carlo Rally by leading all the way on the snow-kissed stages of the Arctic Rally Finland and in the process hit back at an event Toyota had been expected to dominate
What to expect from the WRC's venture to the Arctic
This week's Arctic Rally Finland will bring the World Rally Championship into new territory. And, almost without exception, the service park can't wait for the subzero challenge to commence
How Ogier achieved a fitting Monte Carlo farewell
Against pandemic-shaped odds, the World Rally Championship season opener went ahead in Monte Carlo last weekend as a familiar face again took top spot. But for an emotional Sebastien Ogier, his record-breaking eighth win meant more than most
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC
As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year
