Elfyn Evans ends Britain's 25-year wait for WRC crown after Solberg's final-stage crash

Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin have won the 2026 World Rally Championship drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles after a dramatic season finale in Sardinia on Sunday, CNA and Reuters reported.

The Welshman sealed the crown when Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg, who was on course to beat Evans on the final powerstage and snatch the championship, crashed two corners from the finish of the Rally Italia Sardegna. Solberg still won the rally but lost the crucial bonus points on offer for the top five in the final stage. The 25-year-old Swede had been fastest of anyone at the first split of the powerstage.

The final standings left Evans on 243 points, Solberg on 238 and Sami Pajari on 237. Evans, who finished fifth in the gravel rally, had effectively conceded the title after his own run, admitting he “overdrove” the Sassari test.

The 37-year-old had been championship runner-up five times in the last six years. He becomes the first British world rally champion since Richard Burns in 2001 and only the third since Colin McRae in 1995.

“It hasn’t sunk in. I was sure it was over. I didn’t drive the best stage but threw everything at it but it wasn’t clean. I feel for Oliver. He had an incredible weekend,” Evans said.

The rally was the final round of the season after the Saudi Arabia finale was cancelled due to conflict in the region.

Sources: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/rallying-evans-ends-years-heartache-take-first-world-title-6430921 | https://www.reuters.com/sports/evans-ends-years-heartache-take-first-world-title-2026-10-04/ | https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/evans-wins-wrc-title-after-solberg-powerstage-crash/