WELSH rally star Elfyn Evans says he is gearing up for an exciting 2018 after being promoted within the title winning M-Sport team for the FIA World Rally Championship.

The Cumbrian-based outfit has announced that the 28-year-old from Dinas Mawddwy has been rewarded for an impressive 2017 season with elevation to one of its two front-line entries, as team mate to five-time World Champion Sébastien Ogier.

Evans, together with co-driver Daniel Barritt, had been campaigning a third EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC on DMACK tyres, but now steps up to M-Sport’s main attack, replacing Estonian ace Ott Tänak who has joined Toyota.

“After a fantastic season for the whole team, it’s great that we’ll be a part of it again next year,” said Evans, who finished a fine fifth in the 2017 title race and rewrote the record books by becoming the first Welsh driver to win a WRC round.

“After getting that first victory under our belts, we’re ready to take the next step and I think we all have another exciting season ahead of us.

“Honestly, I can’t wait to get back behind the wheel and Rallye Monte-Carlo can’t come soon enough. We’ll be working hard over the Christmas break to ensure we’re fully prepared, and the goal will be to build on the success of this year.”

There were rumours that Ogier might call it a day after capturing a fifth consecutive WRC crown in Wales but the 33-year-old Frenchman enjoyed himself so much rallying for M-Sport this season that he has decided to return in the New Year.

"This season has been very exciting with some of the closest-fought competition for years. As a driver, I definitely want to be a part of that,” revealed Ogier.

"I still get a lot of emotion from this sport, and this team has so much passion. What we have achieved together has been truly amazing, and we want to continue this fantastic journey.

"That made my decision clear, and we will work hard to chase more success together next year.”M-Sport Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE says he was delighted to confirm that Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans will continue their commitment to the team throughout the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship.They will lead the Cumbrian squad, alongside their respective co-drivers Julien Ingrassia and Daniel Barritt.With the five-time World Champion, and one of the sport’s most exciting up-and-coming talents, M-Sport are well-placed to defend their title in what is sure to be another exciting battle next year.With both crews having good knowledge of the EcoBoost-powered Ford Fiesta WRC, development can continue at pace – Ogier and Evans both determined to add to M-Sport’s repertoire of podiums, wins and championships in the year to come.Negotiations with both crews have been on-going for months and, during a team celebration at Dovenby Hall, Ogier spontaneously took the lead - he and Evans putting pen to paper there and then in front of M-Sport’s 240-strong workforce.With Ogier and Evans, the team have a strong chance of preserving the huge success they had gathered to celebrate. Both crews have speed in abundance, but it’s their understanding of strategy which could combine to produce the perfect recipe for M-Sport’s Championship defence.News on a third Ford Fiesta WRC is likely to be announced in the coming weeks.Team Principal, Malcolm Wilson OBE, said: “To have secured both Sébastien and Elfyn is brilliant news for the team.“We’ve been working towards this goal for some time, so to finally have it confirmed is fantastic and means that we can now focus our attention on the continued development ahead of next season.“In Sébastien and Elfyn, we have a strong chance of defending our titles. It won’t be easy. Our rivals certainly won’t have sat still and I’m expecting an even closer battle for the championship, but with these two crews we have a good chance. “They’re both very intelligent drivers. There is no doubting their speed, but they also have a masterful approach to strategy that delivers results time after time.“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be confident of adding to our success next year and – seeing the reaction of the team this afternoon – I know that everyone will continue to give 110 percent.”