HAVING missed the previous three rounds of this year’s World Rally Championship through injury, local hero Elfyn Evans has set his sights on the top step of the podium on his return to action in this week’s Wales Rally GB.

The 30-year-old made a strong start to the year coming close to victory in Corsica before damaging his spine in a heavy landing during July’s non-championship event in Estonia.

“I actually finished the rally – there was some pain but it was only after visiting a specialist on my return to the UK that the full extent of the injury was revealed.

"They told me it was advisable not to keep driving for fear of making it worse,” explained an understandably frustrated Evans.

However, after 10 weeks out, Evans has now been passed fit to return in time for his home event after missing rounds in Finland, Germany and Turkey, thus slipping from fourth to ninth in the WRC standings.

“I can’t tell you how good it is to be back,” he added.

“Sitting on the sidelines has been a nightmare, but that’s done now and I’m only looking forward.

"And I’m really fired up to being back in the car at home.”

Adding to his anticipation, the winner of Wales Rally GB two years ago has a brand new #33 Ford Fiesta WRC for his first outing since his fourth place in Italy back in the summer.

“There’s no difference in the performance of the cars,” he said, “but there’s always something special about a new car. It’s another demonstration of the support the team has given me. I’m really grateful for that. They’re expecting a win in return – I’ll see what I can do!”

The big day locally is Sunday, which sees two tough forest stages close to the Llyn Brenig reservoir.

Both Alwen and Brenig tests, repeats of 2017 when the event was famously won by Elfyn Evans, will be run twice either side of a timed section around the iconic Great Orme peninsula, following by a short mid-morning service halt back in Llandudno.

The second visit to Brenig is the event’s concluding Wolf Power Stage, offering surviving crews the chance to score bonus championship points in front of a live global television audience.

Full details can be found on the official www.walesrallygb.com website.