Three-time Australian Rally Champion, Eli Evans, looks set to miss at least the opening round of the 2016 series, due to a lack of sponsorship.
Australian Rally Champion, Eli Evans, is set to miss the first round of 2016.The Victorian also took a swipe at the championship organisers, who changed the rules for 2016, ultimately forcing his factory-supported Citroen team onto the sidelines.
“The reality is that I have no sponsorship and can’t afford to contest the championship by funding a program myself,” Evans told RallySport Magazine.
“The family have a couple of Subarus in the shed, as well as a Honda Civic and two Jazz, but without sponsorship I don’t think I’ll be at the first round in Western Australia.”
Finance matters aside, Evans is disappointed that the change in rules for 2016, which allows 4WD cars to compete for outright placings, effectively alienates many competitors who supported the previous 2WD regulations.
“I don’t necessarily mind the rule changes, but by bringing them in it pretty much ensured they got rid of Citroen from the ARC,” Evans said.
“I’m upset that there are a number of guys who have 2WD cars, and who have invested in them and supported the championship, who are no longer really eligible to win.”
Eli Evans in action in his Citroen DS3 at Rally Australia last September.Evans says that even older model four-wheel drive Subarus or Mitsubishis will be two or three seconds per kilometre faster than a well driven two-wheel drive car, and the top drivers potentially even faster.
“I even derived a points system that reward 2WD cars in their own class and gave them a points bonus that made them competitive against the 4WD cars, but that got knocked back as they deemed it too complicated for TV,” Evans says.
“It’s frustrating, as the ARC continues to not listen to their competitors.”
Had the points system been allowed, Evans says that he and brother Simon (a four-time Australian Rally Champion), probably would have brought their Hondas out and driven them in the championship to have some fun, but that opportunity has now been lost.
And with his own business and his family taking up more and more of his time, Evans says that chasing sponsorship and putting a program together on his own is not something that’s at the top of his priority list anymore.
“To be honest, I'm not the type of person to get on the phone to potential sponsors and ask for money – I just can’t do that,” he admits.
“I’ve been lucky in the past that Dad has been keen to see Simon and I do well and has helped to provide us with opportunities, but I’m not interested in chasing the sponsorship myself.
“I’d love to be at the first round of the championship in April, but at this stage it’s not looking likely.”
The fact that Evans even mentioned getting his go-kart out of the shed hints that he’s a little disillusioned and is already looking at other ways to fulfil his 'need for speed'.
The Australian Rally Championship gets underway with the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia, from April 22 to 24.
- Peter Whitten
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