Rallying-Evans Leads Three-Way Battle as New Champion Set to Be Crowned in Sardinia
A first-time WRC champion will be crowned as Evans, Pajari and Solberg fight for 35 points on Sardinia’s gravel stages.
- On Friday, the 2026 World Rally Championship reached its title-deciding finale in Sardinia, featuring an all-Toyota three-way showdown between championship leader Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, and Oliver Solberg.
- Following the cancellation of the Rally Saudi Arabia finale, the season-ending Italian round became the decisive event where Evans defends a 17-point lead over Pajari, with Solberg trailing by 21 points.
- Visibility concerns from hanging dust prompted drivers to request increased time gaps, while championship leader Evans faces the disadvantage of "opening the road" and sweeping loose gravel.
- After Friday's opening leg, Hyundai's Thierry Neuville holds the lead, while Solberg sits third, Pajari fourth, and Evans sixth navigating the demanding gravel stages.
- All three Toyota contenders remain in contention for Sunday's four-stage finale on the Mediterranean coast, where a maximum of 35 points are available to secure their maiden world title.
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The World Rally Championship battle will culminate in Sardinia this weekend.
One of the three aspirants to the throne, the Swedish Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris), leads the Rally Italia-Sardinia, the final round of the championship and in which the world title is decided, by marking the best time in the superspecial opening, in which the other three candidates and teammates, the British ... Continue reading "Solberg leads first day of the Rally Italia-Sardinia: Swedish plays WRC title with Evans and Pajari"
The 2019 FIA World Rally Championship season ends this week with the Rally Sardinia. Oliver Solberg (Toyota), who is chasing his first World Rally Championship title, won the first stage held on Thursday evening.
Sami Pajari, 24, is fighting for the world championship in the enigmatic gravel rally in Sardinia.
Evans leads three-way battle as new champion set to be crowned in Sardinia
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