Elfyn Evans stunned by penalty, Toyota intends to appeal

The Welshman was handed a five-second penalty at the Central European Rally

Toyota intends to appeal the five-second penalty handed to Elfyn Evans for making contact with a hay bale in a chicane during the opening stage of the Central European Rally.

Evans, co-driven by Scott Martin, clouted a hay bale that formed part of a chicane during the first pass through the 12.83km Golf und Therme test that kicked off the 18-stage asphalt round of the championship on Thursday afternoon.

WRC title contender Evans explained in a stewards hearing that the impact with the hay bale was unintentional, while Toyota provided analysis claiming that Evans gained no advantage and, in fact, lost 1.3s in the section involving the chicane.

While the stewards agreed that the incident was unintentional, they deemed Evans breached the WRC sporting regulations for failing to pass through a chicane in the correct manner and issued a five-second penalty.

Reacting to the penalty on Friday morning, Evans admitted he was surprised to be hit with a sanction that demoted him from sixth to eighth overall, heading into Friday’s stages.

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

“I couldn’t quite believe it really [the penalty for hitting the hay bale on Thursday]. There have been so many cases in the past where people have even missed chicanes fully and not got anything. We have to forget about it now and move on,” said Evans at the end of stage three.

Evans’ team-mate Takamoto Katsuta was also perplexed by the penalty, choosing to voice his view on the matter without being prompted during a stage end interview.

“Only thing for me is these kinds of chicanes with the penalty, it totally doesn’t make sense. I don’t understand why they gave this penalty to Elfyn. It is so bad.”

Motorsport.com has been informed that Toyota does intend to appeal the penalty.

“Even if it was not intentional and he already lost time with hitting the bale, the stewards decision stands and we will appeal the decision,” read a statement from a Toyota spokesperson.