Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin are the 2026 World Driver’s and Co-Driver’s Champions.
After Evans suffered a puncture and was pressured to cease 4km into the 23.7km lengthy penultimate stage, dropping out of the Tremendous Sunday factors paying positions, the ultimate stage was a winner takes all showdown. Whoever beat the opposite, Solberg or Evans, would change into World Champions.
It was essentially the most dramatic end in WRC historical past when Solberg, properly up on Evans’ time on the final break up, went off the street three corners from the top of the stage!
“It has not sunk in simply but. I used to be fairly positive it was over. I threw all the things at it. I really feel for Oliver. I’ve lots of people to thank,” mentioned Evans.
“I can’t consider it mentioned. It’s by no means over till it over,” mentioned co-driver Scott Martin.
The Welshman began the ultimate stage with only one level in hand over Solberg within the title standings making the Wolf Energy Stage, for the primary time ever, the championship decider.
Evans set the third quickest time when all was mentioned and executed, profitable the title by 5 factors.
Solberg received the ultimate spherical of the season, virtually a minute forward of his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammates Sebastien Ogier and Vincent Landais.
Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen took their ninth podium of the yr after ending third, adopted by Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria in fourth for Hyundai and Evans/Martin in fifth.
Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston took sixth forward of Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne, who claimed their private greatest consequence on the finish of their rookie yr.
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe took the Wolf Energy Stage win from Pajari, Evans, Katsuta and Fourmaux.
Tremendous Sunday factors went to Pajari from Solberg, adopted by Fourmaux, Katsuta and Ogier.
Roope Korhonen took WRC2 honours and eighth total by 0.7 seconds from the WRC2 champion Robert Virves, with Gus Greensmith rounding out the highest ten.
Learn Motorsport Monday tomorrow for the total report on an exhilarating finish to the Rally1 period.
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