WRC Sardinia: Elfyn Evans claims historic title after Oliver Solberg crashes in final-stage showdown

Elfyn Evans suffered a puncture before the final Rally Italy Sardinia Power Stage in the 2026 World Rally Championship title decider. The championship leader had to stop on stage 16 to replace a front-right wheel, which ended up being a critical moment in the race. This was the second time in a row that Evans encountered a puncture in the penultimate stage, following a similar incident in Chile earlier.

"We could see it coming a long way back," Evans stated, describing the fast corner with numerous stones. Despite the setback, Evans believed they could manage the puncture and continue. Starting with a six-point lead over rally leader Oliver Solberg, Evans' position dropped to fourth after the puncture, losing two points. Solberg continued his strong performance, securing the Super Sunday standings bonus five points.

However, the puncture in stage 16 eliminated any possibility of Evans earning Super Sunday points, narrowing the gap between the title rivals to just one point heading into the final stage. With Solberg poised to win the title on countback if he ends the rally level on points, the final stage between Evans and Solberg is crucial. A victory by either driver would secure the world championship title.