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Oliver Solberg leads Rally Italia Sardegna as championship battle intensifies
The 2026 WRC season finale at Rally Italia Sardegna has reached a dramatic climax following a turbulent Saturday. Oliver Solberg, driving for Toyota, has taken the overall rally lead with a 33.6-second advantage over Sébastien Ogier.
Solberg’s ascent was aided by significant setbacks for Hyundai drivers. Thierry Neuville was forced to retire from the competition after crashing and damaging his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 during stage 11. Additionally, Adrien Fourmaux suffered tire pressure issues and a puncture, which dropped him down the standings.
Despite Solberg leading the rally, the World Rally Championship title remains a tight contest. Elfyn Evans holds a six-point virtual lead in the championship standings. Sami Pajari remains in third place in both the rally and the championship hunt. The final championship decision is expected to be determined on Sunday, with additional points available through the Super Sunday classification and the Power Stage.
Entities
Adrien Fourmaux · Elfyn Evans · Hyundai · Hyundai Motorsport · Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT · Oliver Solberg · Sami Pajari · Sardinia · Sebastien Ogier · Thierry Neuville · Toyota · Toyota Gazoo Racing