Elfyn Evans wins WRC title after Oliver Solberg crashes in Sardinia
Elfyn Evans became Britain's first World Rally Championship champion since 2001 after rival Oliver Solberg crashed two corners from the finish of the final round in Italy.
Dramatic title decider in Sardinia
Elfyn Evans secured the championship with a Toyota car following a crash by his teammate on the last stage. The Welsh driver had led for much of the 2026 season before the final points gap narrowed to just one point. Solberg needed bonus points from finishing in the top five but lost control of his vehicle near the end.
Historic win for British drivers
This victory marks only the third time a British man has won the title, following Colin McRae and Richard Burns. Evans finished ahead of Sebastien Ogier in the rally standings while Solberg took second place overall. The final results left Evans with 243 points compared to Solberg's 238 and Sami Pajari's 237.
Driver reactions after the crash
Evans stated that he was sure the title was lost until the moment his rival crashed. He expressed sympathy for Solberg, noting that the Swede had an incredible weekend despite the outcome. The incident ended a quarter-century wait for a British champion in the World Rally Championship.
2 outlets, different leads
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BBC News
Evans claims dramatic WRC title after Solberg crash
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The Guardian
Evans ends Britain’s wait for World Rally title after Solberg crashes two corners from glory
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2 independent outlets. Headlines as published. Links open the original report.