Elfyn Evans is the 2026 WRC World Champion after five runner-up finishes, with the title decided in a dramatic final stage at Rally Italia Sardegna.
After years of near-misses, Elfyn Evans is finally a World Rally Champion. The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver and co-driver Scott Martin secured their first FIA World Rally Championship titles after an extraordinary Rally Italia Sardegna finale that went down to the final corners of the season.
Evans had previously finished runner-up in the WRC five times, but his long wait ended in dramatic fashion. Oliver Solberg was on course to snatch the championship in the final 7.10-kilometre Sassari–Argentiera Power Stage before going off into the sand just a handful of corners from the finish.
That mistake changed the outcome of the entire championship.
The WRC Title Was Decided in the Final Kilometre
Evans’ route to the title was anything but straightforward.
On the preceding Osilo–Tergu stage, the Welshman suffered a front-right puncture and had to stop to change the wheel. The incident cost him his chance of scoring Super Sunday points and effectively turned the championship battle into a final-stage showdown with Solberg.
Evans completed the Wolf Power Stage first, but he was not entirely satisfied with his run.
Solberg then launched his attack.
With little more than one kilometre remaining, the Swedish driver was 1.9 seconds faster than Evans’ time and appeared to be heading towards a sensational championship victory.
Then everything changed.
Solberg Goes Off Just Corners From the Finish
Only a handful of corners before the finish line, Solberg slid wide and went off into the sand.
He managed to recover and complete the stage, but the time lost was enough to hand the championship to Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin.
Evans admitted afterwards that he had believed the title was gone. He also praised Solberg’s performance and expressed sympathy for his rival after the championship slipped away so close to the finish.
The result remains subject to official FIA confirmation.
Five Runner-Up Finishes, Then Finally a World Title
The significance of the victory goes far beyond the 2026 season.
Evans had finished second in the WRC standings five times and had twice previously arrived at the season finale leading the championship, only to miss out on the ultimate prize.
His 2026 campaign again tested his resilience.
Evans led the championship for much of the season, but his advantage was gradually reduced during the second half of the year. Road-cleaning duties also put him on the back foot during much of the Sardinia finale.
Still, Evans and Martin stayed in contention until the very end.
This time, the championship finally went their way.
First British WRC Champion Since Richard Burns
Evans’ achievement also ends a long wait for British rallying.
Elfyn Evans becomes the first British driver to win the WRC Drivers’ Championship since Richard Burns in 2001.
That means Britain has waited 25 years for another World Rally Champion.
For Evans, the title is the biggest achievement of a career defined as much by perseverance as outright speed.
Solberg Wins Rally Italia Sardegna
Although he narrowly missed out on the championship, Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson won Rally Italia Sardegna in their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
Solberg finished 57.8 seconds ahead of Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, while Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen completed an all-Toyota podium.
Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria finished fourth for Hyundai, with newly crowned champion Evans and Martin taking fifth place.
The final 2026 Drivers’ Championship standings put Evans on 243 points, just five ahead of Solberg on 238. Pajari finished third with 237 points.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT also topped the Manufacturers’ Championship with 662 points, ahead of Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT on 440.
A WRC Finale That Will Be Remembered
Few championship finales could have delivered more drama.
Evans suffered a puncture, Solberg entered the final kilometres with the title within reach, and then one mistake just corners from the finish changed everything.
After finishing second five times and repeatedly coming agonisingly close, Elfyn Evans is finally the WRC World Champion.