Like many rally drivers Dolgellau-born Evans has pedigree.

“Elfyn’s one of those characters in rallying who came to it because of his dad,” explains James.

“His dad, Gwyndaf, was British champion, so there are parallels with the McRae family. Jimmy McRae, British champion, [son] Colin, British champion [and Colin’s brother] Alistair, British champion.

“For Elfyn growing up rallying was in the family, so he started driving like so many other young rally fans around the house or the garden or the farm or whatever in a tractor, started competing, ups and downs, won a couple of small championships, became British champion, moved up to the world stage, won a scholarship with M-Sport.

“He worked with them for a year learning how to develop cars – which I think really stood him in good stead for understanding how a rally car works and what you can do to it – moved to Toyota and has been there or thereabouts ever since in terms of the world title.”

Having won his first WRC event at 2017’s Wales Rally GB, Evans joined Toyota Gazoo Racing in 2020, narrowly missing out on the title in his first season with the Japanese team.

Leading the championship heading into the final round at Monza, a crash on treacherous snow-covered roads handed the title to team-mate Ogier.

He would be runner-up again to the Frenchman 12 months later and then finished second behind Rovapera in 2023 and to Hyundai’s Belgian driver Thierry Neuville one year ago.

“He’s not getting any younger, you’ve got young drivers kind of snapping at his heels,” points out James.

“You’ve got Oliver Solberg coming up who won in Estonia this year. He’s going to be driving for the same team next year. So Elfyn really must be feeling if I don’t do it this year, when am I going to do it?

“Age isn’t such a factor I don’t think as it would be for say a Formula One driver. But yes, the clock is ticking for Elfyn.”