Wohoo, finally my favourite motorsport (and really the only one i am interested in) is covered by Racedepartment
hope this keeps on during the whole season.
Great first event with my fav driver and fav manufacturer getting the best out of it.
However, as feared, you definitely feel the lack of one more manufacturer. Points - and not just one - are really a given now for every WRC car and it somehow feels less competitive then past years. While in the past years you had several drivers to have a good chance to win an event (Tanak, Neuville, Ogier, Latvala, Meeke, Mikkelsen) or at least pose a threat to the championship contenders and mix it up at the front regularly, this year seems more like - accidents and issues precluded - you'll always see the same 3 guys fighting for the win (Tanak, Neuville, Ogier). Evans was impressive and very close to Ogier, but i don't think he will keep this level during the season.
I think last season we will have had the best WRC season for quite some time from now on. I hope the championship will be exciting till the end, because that's really the only interesting thing this year. I think another manufacturer departing (M-Sport) would kill the sport. Didn't think to ever say this, but about time to start hybridization/electrification of the sport to possibly draw new manufacturers in - maybe even a comeback from VW?