EAST Lancashire co-driver Daniel Barritt helped steer Elfyn Evans to a top five finish in Rally GB as the duo ended seventh in the final Championship standings.

Barritt, fromBarrowford, has proved invaluable for Evans with his experience helping the young Welshman to a string of impressive performances culminating in a fine performance in Wales.

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Evans said: "I think we would have taken fifth place at the start of the event for sure. We knew before the rally started that even bettering our result from last year would have been a good achievement given the depth of the entry. To come away in fifth is strong and I think we’ve managed to show some good speed along the way.

“All in all it’s been a good weekend and a good way to finish off the year. I can’t wait to start next season now. We’ve got a lot more experience and I’m looking forward to what I hope will be another successful season at this level."

Evans' team-mate Mikko Hirvonen impressed in finishing second in his final rally before retirement behind winner Sebastien Ogier.

And Evans paid tribute to the flying Finn.

"I want to wish Mikko all the best," he said. "I really couldn’t have wished for a better team mate this year. He and Jarmo (Lehtinen, co-driver) have been so willing to share their experience over the year and if I can achieve anything like his CV at the end of my career then I would be very proud indeed. It was great to see him end such an influential career with such a positive result and I know that the whole team will really miss him and Jarmo next year.”

Evans took the demanding Welsh stages in his stride. Leaving any pressure of a home event outside of the cockpit, the youngster focused on his own rally and his own ambitions.

He upped his pace considerably throughout the weekend to produce what has been one of his best performances on gravel. Securing a joint second fastest time through the second pass of Kinmel Park (SS21), the youngster was reigning in fourth-placed man Thierry Neuville.

Despite having to settle for fifth, Evans goes into 2015 with his confidence high – ready to show more of his true potential.

And his team principal Malcolm Wilson echoed those thoughts.

He said: “Elfyn has had a really good weekend too. He did exactly what was asked of him and came away with a strong fifth place. He didn’t let the pressure of being at home get to him at all and showed some really encouraging speed along the way.

"I think it’s fair to say that this has been one of his best performances on gravel and we’re all looking forward to seeing what he can do with a year of experience under his belt."