Elfyn EvansPlayer·Elfyn Evans delivered a commanding performance at Rally JapanCompetition·Rally Japan, securing his third victory at the event and the 13th of his World Rally ChampionshipCompetition·World Rally Championship (WRC) career. This significant achievement, marking the seventh round of the 2026 season, places Evans alongside 2003 world champion Petter SolbergPlayer·Petter Solberg in the WRC's all-time winners list.
The Welsh driver's success in Toyota CityVenue·Toyota City further solidified his position at the top of the drivers' standings. Evans now leads with 151 points, establishing a 20-point advantage over his closest rival, Takamoto KatsutaPlayer·Takamoto Katsuta, who holds 131 points. Oliver SolbergPlayer·Oliver Solberg, despite a challenging Rally JapanCompetition·Rally Japan, remains third overall with 102 points, 49 points adrift of Evans.
Rally JapanCompetition·Rally Japan represented Evans's second victory of the 2026 season, following his earlier triumph at Rally SwedenCompetition·Rally Sweden. His consistent form has been a cornerstone of his championship campaign.
The event proved to be a mixed experience for Oliver SolbergPlayer·Oliver Solberg, who had previously won Rally Monte CarloCompetition·Rally Monte Carlo, the opening round of the season. Solberg, a key contender, faced a setback on Saturday during the 10th stage when he crashed, forcing him to retire for the day from what was a promising second position. Demonstrating resilience, he returned for the final day of competition, earning valuable points from the 'Super Sunday' classification and winning the Power Stage. Despite these efforts, Solberg ultimately finished Rally JapanCompetition·Rally Japan in 21st place.
Evans's victory also highlights the dominance of the Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTTeam·Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT team, which secured the top four positions at Rally JapanCompetition·Rally Japan. Oliver SolbergPlayer·Oliver Solberg's presence with Toyota for the entire 2026 season follows an impressive 2025 campaign where he clinched the WRC2 title.
Looking ahead, Evans is now poised to potentially surpass other rallying legends. He stands just one victory shy of equaling German icon Walter RöhrlPlayer·Walter Röhrl, who boasts 14 WRC wins, and two wins from matching Finland's Mikko HirvonenPlayer·Mikko Hirvonen, who secured 15 rally victories during his career.
Despite the growing championship lead, Evans maintains a measured perspective on the season's trajectory.
"There is still a long way to go in the championship, and it is too early to talk about the title, but we must enjoy this victory,"— Elfyn Evans.
Both Evans and Takamoto KatsutaPlayer·Takamoto Katsuta will face the demanding task of 'cleaning' the road for their rivals during the Friday attacks at Rally AcropolisCompetition·Rally Acropolis later this month, a challenge that could influence the championship battle.
Elfyn Evans navigates his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 during his winning run at Rally Japan. Credit: PsnewZ/IMAGO
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