Evans crowned WRC champion for first time after Solberg crashes near finish
Wales's Elfyn Evans claimed his first WRC world title after rival Oliver Solberg crashed just metres from the finish on the final stage of the season. Evans became Britain's first world rally champion in 25 years.
Elfyn Evans has won the World Rally Championship title for the first time after a dramatic finish to the final round in Sardinia, Italy. The 37-year-old Welshman, a five-time runner-up, secured the championship after rival Oliver Solberg, 25, crashed on the last of 17 stages with less than 100 metres to go.
Solberg only needed to win that final stage to claim enough bonus points to take the title, but crashed two corners from the finish. Evans had held a commanding 21-point lead for much of the season, though it had narrowed to just one point heading into the decisive stage.
"It hasn't sunk in," a shocked Evans said afterwards. "I was sure it was over. I feel for Oliver, he had an incredible weekend." Evans, who becomes Britain's first world rally champion in 25 years, admitted it was not the way he would have chosen to win, but said the job was done.
He becomes only the third British man to win the WRC title, following Colin McRae in 1997 and Richard Burns in 2001. Solberg, whose father Petter won the title in 2003, still won the rally itself, finishing almost a minute ahead of nine-time champion Sebastien Ogier.
In the final standings, Evans finished on 243 points to Solberg's 238, with fellow Toyota driver Sami Pajari third on 237 after his own title hopes evaporated on the final weekend. Toyota sporting director Kaj Lindstrom said the ending was something he hadn't expected, praising Solberg's all-or-nothing effort.
An inconsolable Solberg stayed in his car for some time after the crash before team principal Jari-Matti Latvala and teammate Ogier encouraged him to join the podium ceremony. The 2026 WRC season was cut to 13 rounds after the Saudi Arabia round was cancelled due to unrest in the Middle East.
