Elfyn Evans receives raptuous reception in Dolgellau

Thousands of people braved pouring rain to give world rally champion Elfyn Evans a hero’s welcome as he returned home to Dolgellau.

The crowd broke into ‘Mae Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau’, led by a choir, as the newly crowned champion arrived in his Toyota rally car, with First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth alongside him rather than regular co-driver Scott Martin.

Welsh flags filled Eldon Square as Evans returned to the area where his rallying career began, less than two weeks after becoming the first Welsh driver to win the World Rally Championship.

Despite persistent rain, supporters packed the town centre before following the celebrations to the Marian, where Evans later demonstrated the car in effervescent style.

The homecoming brought together rally fans, local families and many of those who had followed Evans’ career from its earliest days, with shop windows decorated and banners displayed around the town in his honour.

For many in the crowd, the celebration was the culmination of years spent following Evans across Britain and further afield, with Welsh flags becoming an increasingly familiar sight on World Rally Championship stages throughout his rise to the top of the sport.

Speaking to ‘Cambrian News’, Evans said the scale of the welcome had been overwhelming.

“It’s incredible that everybody turned out to give such a welcome,” he said.

“I can’t thank everybody enough for braving the weather, for making the effort.

“There’s been so much effort into organising the event as well, so I have to be extremely grateful to the organising team and all the partners that made it happen.

“It’s a really nice feeling.”

Evans remained long after his scheduled departure meeting supporters, posing for photographs and signing autographs in the rain as crowds continued to gather around him.

Asked whether spending that time with fans was important to him, he said: “That’s the bare minimum, I would say. Everybody turned up and braved the rain, so I’m just happy to see them.”

For those closest to Evans’ journey through rallying, the occasion carried particular emotion.

Former British rally champion Gwyndaf Evans told the ‘Cambrian News’ how watching his son arrive had given him “goosebumps”.

“To see the reaction and the turnout, it’s just been amazing,” he said.

“So many people have taken time to travel a long way just for this.

“It’s really nice to see the town all decorated with the banners and the paintings on the windows. It just shows how much local support there is.

“It’s a small community and we all pull together, which is great.”

Gwyndaf, himself one of Wales’ best-known rally drivers, has watched his son progress from local roots to the highest level of the sport.

Speaking on stage about the championship-deciding finale, he recalled watching the dramatic final moments unfold alongside Elfyn.

He said the reality of what had happened only truly sunk in when the result became clear and the celebrations erupted around them.

The title concluded a season in which Evans had endured difficult rallies, changing conditions, punctures and setbacks before eventually emerging on top of one of motorsport’s most demanding championships.

Former co-driver and rally commentator Howard Davies was similarly emotional, describing winning the world championship as the “pinnacle” of the sport.

“I’m so, so happy for him, so happy for the family and for everybody, and the backroom staff as well,” he said.

Davies, who previously co-drove alongside Gwyndaf Evans, said the achievement belonged not only to Elfyn but to the network of family members and supporters who had helped him throughout his career.

He also joked that the usually reserved Evans was likely to find facing the homecoming crowd more nerve-racking than competing on a rally stage.

The scale of Thursday’s celebration was made more remarkable by how quickly it had been assembled.

Event director Charlie Jukes said preparations began almost immediately after Evans secured the championship, with many of the same volunteers who work on Rali Ceredigion helping make the Dolgellau event possible.

He said organisers would normally spend “weeks and months” preparing an event of its size.

Instead, the team came together in a matter of days, arranging everything from traffic diversions and facilities to the programme of events across the town.

“The team came together really quickly and we’ve done it,” he said.

Even as the rain continued, supporters remained in Dolgellau well beyond Evans’ arrival, underlining the strength of the reception given to Wales’ new world champion.

Attention inevitably also turned towards whether having a Welsh world champion could help bring the World Rally Championship back to Wales.

The country has a long association with the championship and remains home to stages revered by drivers and fans alike.

Evans said a return remained “a work in progress”.

“I’m biased that the stages here are amazing,” he said.

“But there’s more than just great stages that it takes to bring a World Rally Championship to any location.

“It would be nice, of course, to see it back in Wales one day.”

For one rain-soaked afternoon in Dolgellau, however, world rallying had already come home.