Elfyn Evans Wins First WRC Title After Solberg’s Dramatic Final-Stage Crash

Posted : 05 October 2026

Elfyn Evans finally secured his maiden World Rally Championship title in the most dramatic fashion, after Toyota teammate and closest rival Oliver Solberg crashed just two corners from the end of the decisive Power Stage in Sardinia. The Welshman ended a run of five runner-up finishes in six seasons to claim the 2026 crown.

Evans arrived at the season finale holding a 21-point advantage over Solberg, but the Swede produced a remarkable charge throughout the weekend. Solberg won four stages on Saturday before taking another victory on Sunday, steadily reducing Evans' advantage and turning the championship into a final-stage showdown.

Evans endured a difficult final day and his hopes suffered another blow when he was forced to stop and change a punctured tyre on the penultimate stage. The delay cost him more than a minute and left Solberg just one point behind in the championship standings heading into the 7.1-kilometre Power Stage.

With both drivers separated by only a point, the title effectively became a winner-takes-all battle. Evans completed his run first but feared his performance had not been good enough, while Solberg went into the stage last knowing that beating his teammate would make him world champion.

Solberg initially appeared to have done enough. He was ahead of Evans at the opening timing points and held a 1.9-second advantage with roughly 1.2 kilometres remaining. However, with only two corners left, the Toyota driver ran wide and went off the road, losing the time needed to secure the championship.

Although Solberg recovered and crossed the finish line, the mistake dropped him behind Evans on the Power Stage. That handed Evans the world title, while Solberg still secured overall victory in Sardinia by 57.6 seconds over nine-time champion Sébastien Ogier. Sami Pajari completed the rally podium.

Evans finished fifth overall, 4 minutes and 48.1 seconds behind Solberg, but his Power Stage result was enough to seal the championship by five points. He ended the season on 243 points, with Solberg second on 238 and Pajari third on 237.

The triumph also ended Britain's 25-year wait for a WRC drivers' champion. Evans became the first British champion since Richard Burns won the title in 2001, while co-driver Scott Martin claimed his first world championship.

Reflecting on the extraordinary finish, Evans admitted that the achievement had yet to fully sink in and expressed sympathy for Solberg after his late error.

Elfyn Evans Wins First WRC Title After Solberg’s Dramatic Final-Stage Crash

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