The British driver, alongside Scott Martin in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, finishes fifth to secure the title. The season is decided in a dramatic finale in which Oliver Solberg wins the Italian round but throws away his chance of taking the world crown just metres from the finish of the final special stage. Sébastien Ogier and Sami Pajari complete the podium in Alghero. Korhonen wins WRC2, with Roberto Daprà the leading Italian. Royère takes WRC3 honours.
Alghero (SS), Sunday 4 October 2026 – The 23rd edition of Rally Italia Sardegna has come full circle, making its own mark on the FIA World Rally Championship by telling the incredible story of Elfyn Evans, who is finally the new World Champion. A goal achieved in the most incredible way possible, on the final bend of the Power Stage, ‘Sassari-Argentiera’. The event, organised by the Automobile Club d’Italia with the support of the Region of Sardinia and the Municipality of Alghero, provided an extraordinary show with the final race featuring Rally1 cars, which are set to be retired next year to welcome a new generation of cars.
A one-sided race dominated by Oliver Solberg and Elliot Edmondson, who claimed victory the last round of the season, but lost the world title due to an incredible mistake just a few metres from the finish line, which cost them the win that seemed so close until that point. Everything happened so fast , a small mistake was all it took: the Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 went off track and got stuck in the bushes. He won the rally, but lost the championship. Evans, watched the whole scene on live TV just a few metres further down near the beach, a fifth-place finish was enough to make his dream a reality. The three points he scored in the Power Stage were decisive, giving him the title with a five-point lead over Solberg. He could not believe what had happened , probably like millions of spectators watching live from 72 different countries and all the thousands of people who brought excitement and color to all the special stages during the four days of the rally. Once again, it was a thrilling rally. Once again, the Argentiera played a decisive role in the sporting career of the world’s best drivers.
"I was sure it wasn’t enough and that it was quite over. I really don’t know what my reaction is at this point. Oliver was always so close he gave everything he did an incredible weekend I am sorry for him to lose it at the very end. I have to say for who I am this is not my proudest way to win but it’s incredible, I have so many people to thank. Job done" said and emotional Evans.
Rounding off the podium on the shores of Alghero was nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, also in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. The Frenchman suffered a puncture at the start of the race, and despite a very strong performance, he got a second place on the final day, missing out on the chance to add to his impressive record, which still has him as the most successful driver in Sardinia (2013, 2014, 2015, 2021, 2025). The all-Toyota podium was rounded off by Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen, the third crew in battle for the championship, who were never really able to get between Solberg and Evans but delivered a consistent performance without any major errors.
Hyundai’s weekend was saved by Adrien Fourmaux and Alexander Coria, who finished fourth. He had taken the lead on the first stage, but was then slowed down by a puncture at the start of Saturday’s leg. He tried to fight his way back up the order, suffered another puncture, and held on. His teammate Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, finished the first day just a whisker ahead of the leaders, but were forced to retire after losing their left-rear tyre on the ‘Lerno-Sa Conchedda-Monti di Alà’ stage, famous for the iconic Micky’s Jump. The three-time winner of Rally Italia Sardegna won the Power Stage following a stunning performance.
With Fourmaux in fourth and Evans in fifth, Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston, get a sixth place after having a difficult weekend . Seventh place went to Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne in a Ford Puma Rally1 in his first full season in the World Championship.
A good fourth place for the Polish duo Kajetan Kajetanovicz and Maciej Szczepaniak, who finished ahead of the top Italian crew in the standings, Roberto Daprà and Luca Guglielmetti, in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. The ACI Team Italia driver had a difficult weekend that stopped him from repeating last year’s success in Sardinia, despite a very competitive pace, particularly during the middle section of the race when he also set the fastest time in his class on SS10 “Solorchè”.
A more challenging weekend of the Italian team. Giovanni Trentin and Pietro Elia Ometto, on a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, began the weekend with impressive times, but then suffered a run of bad luck – including punctures and technical problems. Local driver Valentino Ledda, alongside Claudio Mele, in an Opel Corsa Rally4, also faced a similar scenario.
The young driver Giuseppe Bitti, and Giuseppe Pirisinu in their Renault Clio Rally3, were the first Sardinian crew to cross the finish line. In WRC3 the French duo Eric Royère and Maxime Andernack, in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, took the honours, while in the two-wheel-drive category victory went to Gianluca Mara and Veronica Cottu, in a Peugeot 208 Rally4.
