Winning the WRC2 category on Wales Rally GB was the perfect way for Daniel Barritt and Elfyn Evans to end their 2013 season, according to Ford’s rally boss Malcolm Wilson.

Wilson, head of the M-Sport team said: “Elfyn and Daniel can be very pleased with themselves.

“They did exactly what was asked of them.

“There wasn’t a single mark on the car at the end of the event and they controlled their lead from practically start to finish.”

The year began with Evans moving to Dovenby, the home of M-Sport, to claim his prize for winning the 2012 Fiesta International Shootout – a 12-month contract working with the team.

Since the contract would co-incide with his other prize from an incredible 2012 season – a programme of WRC events in a four-wheel drive car for winning the FIA Academy title – Evans was in the unique position of helping to develop the car he’d be driving on the WRC events.

The Fiesta R5 development programme included appearances on several rallies, as well as an intensive test schedule away from the glare of publicity, and Evans was joined by co-driver Barritt, from Barrowford, for these events.

Once the R5 was launched, the pair were able to use the car in anger on a total of five WRC rounds and finished second in WRC2 on two of these events, in Germany and France.

An unexpected bonus for the pair was a last-minute offer to drive a Qatar M-Sport Ford Fiesta World Rally Car on the Italian round of the WRC, in Sardinia.

Despite a new co-driver, a new car and no previous experience of the event, they finished in a remarkable sixth place – the best WRC debut by a Junior champion in the sport’s history.

The final round of the FIA World Rally Championship was Evans’ home event and, despite stiff opposition, he and Barritt were able to record their first WRC2 victory.

Their winning margin was over a minute and impressed the M-Sport team principal Malcolm Wilson OBE, who had already expressed his hope that Evans will be able to tackle every round of the WRC in 2014, budget allowing.

Speaking immediately after the rally, Evans said: “It is a great feeling to win my first WRC2 event at home here in Wales.

“I need to say a big thanks to the whole team – they’ve worked really hard and given me this fantastic car.

“To bring them a win here on home soil is absolutely fantastic!

“I have to say a big thanks to Daniel too.

“He works extremely hard and this win is as much down to him as it is to me.

“This is a very special moment for us, so it has to be up there as one of the best moments of my career.”

Barritt has competed in the World Rally Championship before and hopes to get the chance to return to the series alongside Evans.

Asked what his plans are for next season, he said: “I’m not sure yet, we will find out in the next month or two.

“It depends on sponsorship and budget.

“We want to do more of the main WRC rallies so it may be that we’re not in the WRC 2 next year and we’re on the main WRC rally instead.

“I’ve done the full rally before and it is enjoyable to be involved in that.

“There are a few rallies Elfyn has not done yet but it’s good to see how he is progressing.

“I get a lot of enjoyment from that.”