Toyota trio battles for WRC title at Rally Italia Sardegna

The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season concludes this weekend at Rally Italia Sardegna, where three Toyota Gazoo Racing drivers are in contention for their first world title: Elfyn Evans, Sami Pajari, and Oliver Solberg.

Championship leader Elfyn Evans holds a 17-point advantage over Pajari and a 21-point lead over Solberg. With a maximum of 35 points available, Evans needs at least 19 points to guarantee the championship regardless of his rivals' performances. Pajari remains a threat, trailing by 17 points, while Solberg sits in third, just 4 points behind Pajari.

In the opening stage at the Ittiri Arena Show, Oliver Solberg took the initial lead, clocking the fastest time to edge out Sébastien Ogier and Evans. Pajari followed in fourth. The competition faces challenges including loose gravel surfaces and dust visibility issues, which have already impacted testing and early stages.

Toyota Gazoo Racing dominates the title fight, with all three primary contenders driving the GR Yaris Rally1. The final round will determine if Evans can secure his first crown or if one of his teammates will pull off an upset in the season finale.