Elfyn Evans Controls Rally Sweden 2026 Charge

WRC, Sportrik Media - Elfyn Evans secured victory at Rally Sweden 2026 after breaking clear of team-mate Takamoto Katsuta on Saturday morning. The Welshman then managed his advantage to the finish while maintaining competitive stage pace.

The intra-team battle at Toyota Gazoo Racing had remained tightly contested through Friday, with marginal time gaps separating the two drivers. However, during Saturday morning’s loop, Evans established a decisive margin that allowed him to adopt a more measured rhythm. Despite controlling the gap, his stage times remained strong, securing his third career victory in Sweden, having first won the event in 2020.

In points terms, Evans collected 34 points from the weekend, just one short of the maximum available haul. He was the fastest driver across Super Sunday classification but finished second on the Power Stage, only 0.1 seconds behind Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville. The combined score significantly strengthens his early-season championship position.

The win also places Evans within one Rally Sweden victory of his team principal Jari-Matti Latvala, adding historical context to his achievement. Rally Sweden is widely regarded as a specialist winter event traditionally favoring Scandinavian drivers, making Evans’ third success particularly notable.

“I wouldn’t say I’m really chasing him, but of course I’m pretty happy with three wins. It’s quite a specialist rally, so for a non-Scandinavian, I don’t think it’s too bad. Who knows what the future holds, but of course I’m happy to do this again,” Evans said.

He emphasized that Sweden consistently presents a narrow margin for error. Although temperatures were well below freezing, snowfall was limited this year, exposing gravel on the second passes of several stages. That evolution created additional set-up challenges across the field. Evans credited preparatory work, including running at Arctic Rally, for establishing a strong baseline.

“I was happy with the car balance. It’s something we worked on at Arctic Rally and again in testing, and we already had a good base from last year. Overall I was very happy with the car,” he explained.

Evans acknowledged that certain aspects of his driving style may place increased load on the tyres, particularly during afternoon loops when gravel exposure increased surface abrasion.

“The only thing is that I have certain traits that perhaps make it a bit harder on the tyre, which compromises me slightly in the afternoons. But in terms of the ability to push, I felt quite good.”

His overall approach, he said, was based on efficiency rather than excessive aggression, balancing speed with controlled risk.

“I don’t think there’s really a secret other than to try to drive as quick as you can. It felt efficient behind the wheel rather than a crazy push. Of course, you have to take some risks if you want to win the rally, but at the same time it felt quite natural.”

With a third Sweden victory and a near-maximum points haul, Evans reinforces his early-season momentum in WRC 2026. Maintaining this balance between pace, tyre management, and risk control will be critical as the championship transitions to events with different surface characteristics in the coming rounds.