Elfyn Evans heads into the WRC season finale in Sardinia with a 17-point lead over Toyota teammate Sami Pajari. However, the Welshman has never won a world title in his career, and the pressure to end that drought is mounting.
Opportunity and Challenge in Sardinia
Evans has finished runner-up in the WRC five times, including last year when he lost to Sebastien Ogier at the final round in Saudi Arabia. Now, with younger and less experienced rivals, Evans remains cautious. "It's close enough, let's say. Plenty can still happen," he told RallyJournal.com. "We're here to do the best we can, and let's see how it plays out."
Despite leading the standings, Evans knows his margin is not safe. "I don't know if we have the margin to only be smart. I think just driving around is not going to be enough with so many points on offer," he stressed. He emphasized that the event in Sardinia is extremely difficult to control, especially with soft roads and many loose rocks during recce. "Conditions will evolve a lot, especially for the second pass. It can be quite rough, and conditions like that can be difficult to manage," he added.
Strategy for Opening the Road
As championship leader, Evans will open the road on the first day, which he sees as a significant disadvantage. "Running first on the road in particular makes the situation difficult. From that starting position, it will be hard to manage our way to a good result. We'll probably just have to drive as we always do and see how the event develops," he explained. Strategy will be crucial, especially with Oliver Solberg, the third Toyota driver, also in title contention, 21 points adrift.
Evans also highlighted the risk of punctures, which are almost inevitable on Sardinia's rocky gravel roads. "I think it's definitely going to play a part. I think it's almost impossible to get through the whole rally without somebody having a puncture at some point," he said. "We're going to have to try to help the situation as best we can, including through our driving style. But let's see how well we manage that."
With pressure mounting, Evans must withstand the challenge from Pajari and Solberg. If he succeeds, his first world title will become a reality. But if he fails, it will be a bitter blow for a driver who has waited so long for this moment.
Baca Juga
Elfyn Evans memimpin WRC 2025 dengan keunggulan 17 poin jelang final di Sardinia. Ia hadapi tekanan untuk raih gelar pertama.
Oliver Solberg memimpin SS1 Rally Sardinia 2026, unggul 0,8 detik atas Ogier. Duel juara WRC memanas, Evans dan Pajari siap menantang.
Oliver Solberg memenangi superspecial pembuka Rally Sardinia, ungguli Elfyn Evans dan Sami Pajari. Simak drama penalti dan persaingan ketat gelar WRC 2026.
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