The 2026 World Rally Championship is set to be decided on the final stage, with Elfyn Evans and Oliver Solberg virtually separated by just three points.
Solberg took the lead of Rally Italy Sardinia on Saturday to put championship leader Elfyn Evans under pressure, who started the season finale 21 points ahead of Toyota team-mate Solberg.
With Solberg provisionally set to score 25 points and Evans 10 from the overall rally classification, Solberg’s points deficit was effectively six points starting Super Sunday.
Both drivers therefore needed to push on the final day, but Solberg benefitted from the best road position (10th) vs Evans who started sixth.
Solberg, however, used his road position to devastating effect, setting the pace on SS14 Osilo – Tergu by 7.8s over Sami Pajari – who can still become world champion today but needs extreme circumstances to fall for him.
Evans was fourth fastest on the stage (behind Adrien Fourmaux), allowing Solberg to virtually close to three points behind Evans.
Solberg used his stage-end interview to plead with team-mate Sébastien Ogier “to speed up a little bit and catch Elfyn”, with the outgoing world champion completing SS14 4.8s slower than Evans despite an advantageous road position.
The sandy nature of Sassari – Argentiera – which will run later as the powerstage – favored those running at the head of the field, with second-on-the-road Thierry Neuville setting the fastest time.
Evans was two seconds faster than Solberg, but remains fourth in Super Sunday with Solberg out front by 7.9s over Fourmaux, who vaulted Pajar on the day’s second test.
“First time for me every doing this stage so it’s not easy, but very rutted already,” Solberg said. “It seems like it’s just getting slower and slower.
“On the powerstage this afternoon it’s not hopefully too rutted the further back you go.
“I’m not the one with the stress, Elfyn is, so I just need to enjoy.”
Asked if he was doing all he can, Evans added: “I’m trying. I’m not sure it’s enough but of course we’re trying.”
As it stands, Evans will win the world championship so long as he doesn’t drop more than two points to Solberg on the powerstage.
