Evans Finally Crowned WRC Champion as Solberg Crashes Two Corners From the Title in Sardinia
Elfyn Evans became world rally champion in Sardinia after Oliver Solberg went off two corners from the end of the final Power Stage.
After five runner-up finishes, Elfyn Evans is finally a world champion. The Welshman and co-driver Scott Martin clinched the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship title at the season finale, Rally Italia Sardegna, on Sunday, in one of the most dramatic title deciders the sport has seen. Toyota teammate Oliver Solberg had victory in the championship within reach until he went off the road two corners from the finish of the final stage.
How the title was decided
Evans arrived in Sardinia with a 17-point lead over Toyota teammate Sami Pajari, with Solberg third, 21 points back, according to Speedcafe.
Solberg drove brilliantly all weekend and won the rally by 57.6 seconds from Sebastien Ogier. Evans's challenge, by contrast, was hit by a puncture on the final day that forced a wheel change and wiped out his Super Sunday points. Speedcafe reported that Solberg's rally win and Super Sunday points cut the gap to just one point going into the Wolf Power Stage, the last stage of the season.
With bonus points available on the Power Stage, Solberg only needed to beat Evans on the final run. Instead, he ran off the road two corners from the end. Thierry Neuville set the fastest time on the stage, with Pajari 3.3 seconds back, and Evans's time was enough to secure the title.
Final rally classification (top 6)
- Oliver Solberg (Toyota)
- Sebastien Ogier
- Sami Pajari
- Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai)
- Elfyn Evans (Toyota)
- Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota)
Speedcafe reported that Evans won the championship by five points from Solberg. The WRC noted results remain subject to FIA confirmation.
What they said
Evans was still taking it in. "I don't think it's quite sunk in yet... I was quite sure that it was over," he told Speedcafe. "I feel sorry for Oliver as well."
Solberg was gracious in defeat. "This was my whole dream. I thought I actually could do it so it is a strange feeling... It hurts a lot but I have no regrets."
A long wait ends
The title ends years of near-misses for Evans. He finished runner-up in the championship five times, including losing out to Ogier by just four points in 2025, according to WRC.com. He is the first British drivers' champion since Richard Burns in 2001, and Scott Martin claims his first world title as co-driver.
Why Malaysian fans should care
Rally has a long history in Malaysia, which has hosted Asia-Pacific Rally Championship rounds over the years. The 2026 WRC finale showed why the discipline still grips fans: a whole season decided by a few seconds and a few metres on a gravel road in Sardinia.
Key takeaways
- Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin are the 2026 world rally champions.
- Oliver Solberg won the rally but crashed two corners from the end of the Power Stage.
- Evans won the title by five points after a final-day puncture almost cost him.
- He is Britain's first WRC drivers' champion since Richard Burns in 2001.
FAQ
Who won the 2026 WRC title? Elfyn Evans, with co-driver Scott Martin, driving for Toyota.
Who won Rally Italia Sardegna 2026? Oliver Solberg won the rally by 57.6 seconds from Sebastien Ogier.
How did Solberg lose the title? He went off the road two corners from the end of the final Power Stage, when he needed to beat Evans to take the championship.
Sources: WRC.com, Speedcafe, Yahoo Sports, FIA