Sardinia, Sunday:
Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin are FIA World Rally Champions for the first time after an extraordinary Rally Italia Sardegna finale went down to the final corners of the season as the 2026 programme drew to a close on the Italian shores.
Interestingly, earlier in the season, the two championship frontrunners, Briton Evans and Sweden's Oliver Solberg, suffered catastrophic mechanical retirements on the penultimate day of the Kenyan round of the WRC – the 2026 Safari Rally - due to the brutal, rocky terrain.
Because of the WRC's unique "Super Sunday" regulations, they didn't leave empty-handed as Solberg staged a massive Sunday counter-attack, winning the Sunday leg and going fastest on the Hell's Gate Power Stage to salvage 11 crucial points.
A screen grab of a devastated Oliver Solberg after he slid wide and went off into the sand, losing the world title race on Sunday. (Photo / Pura Vida Sports Africa)
Fans are still waiting to see if the Safari will be included in the 2027 programme after Kenya officially submitted a formal bid for a five-year contract extension with Sports Principal Secretary Elijah Mwangi confirming the country is aggressively preparing for a larger event in March, 2027, and indicated that the initial feedback regarding a five-year renewal has been highly positive, though a final signed agreement is still pending
This scenic Hell's Gate recovery in March prevented Evans from pulling away early and ultimately kept the title fight razor-thin until the final race on Sunday which saw Evans survive one last twist to finally secure the crown after years of near-misses, while Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson won the rally following a superb weekend in their GR Yaris Rally1.
Evans entered the final Wolf Power Stage knowing his championship battle with Solberg had effectively become a straight fight. That scenario had been created on the preceding Osilo – Tergu test, where Evans suffered a front-right puncture and stopped to change the wheel. It was his second costly penultimate-stage puncture in as many rallies after a similar setback in Chile.
With Super Sunday points gone, Evans and Solberg arrived at the 7.10km Sassari – Argentiera finale separated by the smallest of margins in the title race.
Evans completed his run first. Solberg then attacked and was 1.9sec ahead of the Welshman’s time with little more than one kilometre remaining.
But just a handful of corners from the finish, the Swede slid wide and went off into the sand. He recovered and completed the stage, but the time lost was enough to confirm Evans and Martin as world champions.
A screen grab of Oliver Solberg's Toyota going off the road in Sunday's extraordinary Rally Italia Sardegna finale. (Photo / Pura Vida Sports Africa)
“I don’t think it’s quite sunk in yet,” admitted Evans, who had feared the title was slipping away before Solberg’s late drama. “I mean, I was quite sure that it was over. I didn't drive the best stage. I threw everything at it, but it wasn't clean. I feel sorry for Oliver as well - he did an incredible weekend, and I'm sorry for him to lose it so close to the finish there. Obviously, I have a lot of people to thank for backing me for all the years, and to Scotty, obviously, for an incredible job."
The success ends a long wait for Evans, who had finished championship runner-up five times and twice previously arrived at the season finale leading the standings.
His 2026 campaign again demanded resilience. Evans led the championship for much of the year but saw his advantage eroded during the second half of the season.
Road-cleaning duties then left him on the back foot through much of the finale, but he and Martin kept themselves in contention until the championship finally swung their way.
Oliver Solberg finished just five points behind Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans in the battle for the World Rally Championship's drivers' title. (Photo / WRC)
WRC Promoter CEO Éric Boullier said: “Elfyn and Scott have shown incredible resilience throughout this championship. They have come close before, but they kept working, kept believing and kept delivering when the pressure was highest.
“Becoming WRC champions today is a hugely deserved reward for that perseverance.”
Evans becomes the first British driver to win the WRC title since Richard Burns in 2001.
WRC Promoter Chief Operating Officer Julien Vial added: “This is a wonderful moment for Elfyn, Scott and everyone who has supported them on this journey.
“Their story is a reminder that you have to keep daring to dream, even after disappointment. To finally reach this moment makes the achievement even more special.”
Solberg won the rally by 57.6sec from Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, with Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen completing an all-Toyota podium. Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria finished fourth ahead of Evans and Martin, while Takamoto Katsuta and Jon Armstrong completed the leading Rally1 finishers.
Elfyn Evans becomes the first British driver to win the WRC title since Richard Burns in 2001. (Photo / WRC)
Season Highlights:
Drivers' Champion: Elfyn Evans won his first career title, finishing just 5 points ahead of teammate Oliver Solberg.
Manufacturers' Champion: Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT claimed the title with a dominant 554 points, far ahead of Hyundai's 381.
Toyota Dominance: Toyota drivers swept the top four spots in the individual championship standings (Evans, Solberg, Pajari, Ogier).
Top Hyundai: Adrien Fourmaux was the highest-placed non-Toyota driver, finishing 5th overall with 183 points.
Season Finale: The season concluded early at Rally Italia Sardegna after the planned final round in Saudi Arabia was cancelled due to regional conflict.
The complete final top 10 driver standings for the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship:
1. Elfyn Evans (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) – 243 points
2. Oliver Solberg (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) – 238 points
3. Sami Pajari (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) – 237 points
4. Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) – 189 points
5. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT) – 183 points
6. Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT) – 175 points
7. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT) – 134 points
8. Hayden Paddon (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT) – 38 points
9. Joshua McErlean (M-Sport Ford WRT) – 29 points
10. Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT) – 25 points [1, 2, 3]
The complete final top 10 co-driver standings for the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship:
1. Scott Martin (Co-driver to Elfyn Evans / Toyota) – 243 points
2. Elliott Edmondson (Co-driver to Oliver Solberg / Toyota) – 238 points
3. Enni Mälkönen (Co-driver to Sami Pajari / Toyota) – 237 points
4. Vincent Landais (Co-driver to Sébastien Ogier / Toyota) – 189 points
5. Alexandre Coria (Co-driver to Adrien Fourmaux / Hyundai) – 183 points
6. Aaron Johnston (Co-driver to Takamoto Katsuta / Toyota) – 175 points
7. Martijn Wydaeghe (Co-driver to Thierry Neuville / Hyundai) – 134 points
8. John Kennard (Co-driver to Hayden Paddon / Hyundai) – 38 points
9. James Fulton (Co-driver to Joshua McErlean / M-Sport Ford) – 29 points
10. Janne Ferm (Co-driver to Esapekka Lappi / Hyundai) – 25 points
The final 2026 WRC Manufacturers' Championship standings:
1. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – 554 points
2. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – 381 points
3. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 – 210 points
4. M-Sport Ford WRT – 138 points
(Written by WRC with additional input by Pura Vida Sports Africa Reporter)
