WRC leader Evans: Saudi Arabia round cancellation won't change much
WRC championship leader Elfyn Evans has commented on the removal of the Saudi Arabia rally from the 2026 calendar, saying it will have little effect on his approach. He heads into the Sardinia round with a 17-point lead over teammate Sami Pajari.
World Rally Championship (WRC) points leader Elfyn Evans arrives at the Italian round in Sardinia holding a 17-point advantage over teammate Sami Pajari, while Oliver Solberg trails the leader by 21 points. Commenting on Thursday's announcement that the Saudi Arabia rally has been dropped from next year's calendar, Evans said the change would not significantly affect his situation. He noted that not having to sweep the road in Saudi Arabia could offer a slight benefit, though that would in any case have depended on how events unfolded in Sardinia.
Title fight could swing until the last moment
Evans stressed that the three-way battle for the championship title remains undecided, since the large haul of points available on Sunday could reshape the standings. Asked whether he preferred the role of hunter or hunted, he said he still needs to deliver a solid performance himself, while his rivals must either rely on his mistakes or win the round outright to close the gap — though he pointed out they have nothing to lose in that scenario.
Weather could prove decisive
One factor none of the title contenders can control is the weather — the Sardinia round is being held in October for the first time since 2020, raising the likelihood of rain and cooler temperatures. That could increase the importance of Hankook's soft-compound Dynapro tyres, since rain reduces the road-sweeping effect and being first on the road becomes an advantage. Although none of the three championship contenders has previously won in Sardinia, Evans can draw on a strong track record there, having finished fourth six times in his last nine starts at the event.
The news that the Saudi Arabia rally would be dropped from the 2026 WRC calendar without a replacement was announced on Thursday, with organisers citing regional uncertainty and related logistical challenges. As a result, this year's championship will now be decided after one round rather than the two originally planned.
