How Evans defied history to join rallying greats
Elfyn Evans has won the World Rally Championship for the first time at the age of 37, ending a remarkable run of five previous runner-up finishes. The Welsh driver secured the title in dramatic fashion at Rally Italia Sardegna in Sardinia when his closest rival Oliver Solberg crashed off the track on the final stage, handing Evans victory with just two turns remaining. This achievement marks Britain's first WRC world champion in 25 years, placing Evans alongside Colin McRae and Richard Burns as the only British men to have won the title since its inception in 1977.
Evans entered the final race with a 21-point lead but acknowledged feeling vulnerable during the weekend, admitting he mentally prepared a sixth runners-up speech as he waited for Solberg to finish. Despite winning only two of the previous 12 events during 2026, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin proved consistently competitive across demanding terrain in Monaco, Sweden, Chile and southern Europe. Evans's father Gwyndaf was British rally champion but never reached the world stage, making his son's title particularly poignant. Solberg, who came within one kilometre of clinching his first world title, suffered motorsport's equivalent of a last-minute collapse, whilst Evans expressed sympathy for a rival he acknowledged could remain a future threat.
- British rally driver Elfyn Evans wins first WRC title after five runner-up finishes
- Rival Oliver Solberg crashes on final stage at Sardinia, handing victory to Evans
- First British WRC champion in 25 years, joining Colin McRae and Richard Burns
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Rallying is a form of motorsport in which drivers race specially prepared cars over public roads or various terrain, competing against the clock. The World Rally Championship is the highest level of this competition, held across multiple countries throughout each year.
Elfyn Evans is a 37-year-old Welsh driver who has competed in the WRC for several years. Before this season, he had finished as runner-up in the championship on five separate occasions, establishing himself as one of the sport's most persistent nearly-champions.
Evans's achievement marks a significant milestone: he is Britain's first world rally championship winner in 25 years. His father Gwyndaf was a successful rally champion in Britain, though he never competed at world championship level, making Elfyn's title particularly meaningful for the family.