Oliver Solberg narrows gap on Elfyn Evans at WRC Rally Japan

Elfyn Evans claimed his third Rally Japan victory on Sunday and extended his FIA World Rally Championship points lead with a controlled drive on Toyota Gazoo Racing’s home roads.

Elfyn Evans reckons it was “important” to secure victory in Rally Japan, but has admitted it’s difficult to predict how crucial it will be in his quest for a maiden World Rally Championship title. The Toyota driver delivered a faultless blend of speed and perfect management this weekend to claim the final asphalt event of the season from reigning champion Sebastien Ogier. A second win ...Keep reading

Elfyn Evans tamed Rally Japan’s tricky asphalt stages to claim his second win of the World Rally Championship season after fending off reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier. Evans and co-driver Scott Martin produced a faultless display throughout the 20 asphalt stages to become the most successful driver in Rally Japan history by taking a third event win by 12.8s from Ogier. Toyota ...Keep reading

Elfyn Evans tamed Rally Japan’s tricky asphalt stages to claim his second win of the World Rally Championship season after fending off reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier. Evans and co-driver Scott Martin produced a faultless display throughout the 20 asphalt stages to become the most successful driver in Rally Japan history by taking a third event win by 12.8s from Ogier. Toyota ...Keep reading

Elfyn Evans has a 20-point advantage at the halfway point of the 2026 World Rally Championship after his third win in four years at Rally Japan.

Elfyn Evans has a 20-point advantage at the halfway point of the 2026 World Rally Championship after his third win in four years at Rally Japan.

Elfyn Evans will take a 17.8s lead into the final day of WRC Rally Japan after a dramatic Saturday which saw Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Oliver Solberg crash out of victory contention.

Oliver Solberg dismissed suggestions that he was taking too much risk ahead of his premature exit from the Rally Japan victory fight. The Toyota World Rally Championship driver had been reeling in rally leader Elfyn Evans when he slid wide in a left-hander in Stage 10. The loss of control resulted in an impact with a tree, which caused terminal damage to his car’s right-rear ...Keep reading

Oliver Solberg dismissed suggestions that he was taking too much risk ahead of his premature exit from the Rally Japan victory fight. The Toyota World Rally Championship driver had been reeling in rally leader Elfyn Evans when he slid wide in a left-hander in Stage 10. The loss of control resulted in an impact with a tree, which caused terminal damage to his car’s right-rear ...Keep reading

World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans leads Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier by 17.8s into the final day of Rally Japan after Oliver Solberg crashed out of victory contention. Evans headed into the longest leg of the rally with a 15.6s advantage over Solberg, but soon came under severe pressure from the Swede, who reduced the margin to 10.6s by midday. Solberg however was unable to add ...Keep reading

Solberg crashed out of contention, leaving Evans and Ogier to battle for victory

World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans leads Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier by 17.8s into the final day of Rally Japan after Oliver Solberg crashed out of victory contention. Evans headed into the longest leg of the rally with a 15.6s advantage over Solberg, but soon came under severe pressure from the Swede, who reduced the margin to 10.6s by midday. Solberg however was unable to add ...Keep reading

Oliver Solberg crashed out of Rally Japan while fighting for the lead with Toyota team-mate and World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans. The Monte Carlo winner had been setting green split times on his rivals, rally leader Elfyn Evans and third-placed Sebastien Ogier, during stage 10 when drama struck. Solberg lost the rear of his GR Yaris entering a tight left-hander and clouted a tree ...Keep reading

Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier felt Solberg was taking too much risk

Oliver Solberg crashed out of Rally Japan while fighting for the lead with Toyota team-mate and World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans. The Monte Carlo winner had been setting green split times on his rivals, rally leader Elfyn Evans and third-placed Sebastien Ogier, during stage 10 when drama struck. Solberg lost the rear of his GR Yaris entering a tight left-hander and clouted a tree ...Keep reading

Oliver Solberg heaped pressure on Rally Japan leader Elfyn Evans as the battle to win the final asphalt round of the World Rally Championship season intensified. Solberg quickly set his sights on catching Evans, whose 15.7s overnight lead over his Toyota team-mate was reduced to 10.6s. Solberg produced stunning speed in the day’s opening test to win stage seven (Obara) by 3.2s from ...Keep reading

Evans still leads, but Solberg’s morning pace has tightened the fight for victory

Oliver Solberg heaped pressure on Rally Japan leader Elfyn Evans as the battle to win the final asphalt round of the World Rally Championship season intensified. Solberg quickly set his sights on catching Evans, whose 15.7s overnight lead over his Toyota team-mate was reduced to 10.6s. Solberg produced stunning speed in the day’s opening test to win stage seven (Obara) by 3.2s from ...Keep reading

Elfyn Evans ended an opening day of tricky, changing conditions on Rally Japan with a 15.7s lead as Toyota Gazoo Racing filled the top four places on Friday’s leaderboard.

World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans made the most of his road position to maintain his Rally Japan lead over Oliver Solberg as Toyota locked out the top four on Friday. Evans made the most of the cleaner roads and combined that with impressive pace to end Friday’s six stages with a 15.7s lead over Solberg. Despite being disadvantaged by starting sixth on the road, nine-time world ...Keep reading

World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans made the most of his road position to maintain his Rally Japan lead over Oliver Solberg as Toyota locked out the top four on Friday. Evans made the most of the cleaner roads and combined that with impressive pace to end Friday’s six stages with a 15.7s lead over Solberg. Despite being disadvantaged by starting sixth on the road, nine-time world ...Keep reading

World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans produced a faultless drive in tricky changeable conditions to lead Rally Japan from Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg. Evans made the most of starting first on the road while overnight rain meant Friday morning’s stages featured several damp patches waiting to catch out crews. Solberg took the early rally lead after winning the brand-new Asuke ...Keep reading

World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans produced a faultless drive in tricky changeable conditions to lead Rally Japan from Toyota team-mate Oliver Solberg. Evans made the most of starting first on the road while overnight rain meant Friday morning’s stages featured several damp patches waiting to catch out crews. Solberg took the early rally lead after winning the brand-new Asuke ...Keep reading