Robert Virves has been confirmed as the 2026 WRC2 champion following the removal of Rally Saudi Arabia from the World Rally Championship calendar. The Estonian driver secured the title without even competing in the final round, thanks to a combination of remarkable consistency and a schedule change beyond his control.
Virves, driving for Toksport in a Skoda, has been the class of the field this season. He won four consecutive events and added crucial points at last week's Rally Chile with a second-place finish. That result, combined with Saudi Arabia's absence, left his closest rival Teemu Suninen unable to close the 41-point gap.
WRC2's rules count a driver's best six scores from seven events, making the math complicated. Suninen had hoped to put pressure on Virves in Sardinia, but the loss of the 14th and final WRC round means he can no longer recover. "I agree it would be strange, but the rules are not made by me," Virves told DirtFish before Rally Chile. "Sometimes it can be like this. One year, Oliver Solberg was watching some rally with helmet on on his sofa to see how his championship will be like."
This is Skoda's first title since Andreas Mikkelsen in 2023, and the first for any Estonian driver in WRC2. Virves also clinched the WRC2 Challenger title in Chile, adding to his trophy collection. He will still compete in Sardinia, perhaps to celebrate or simply to maintain his competitive edge.
Calendar changes often decide championships, and this time Virves was the beneficiary. However, his performances throughout the season deserve full credit. Four straight wins are proof of speed and consistency rarely seen in young drivers.
With this title, Virves's name is now firmly on the rally map. What's next? A step up to the top class? Only time will tell. For now, he has made history as Estonia's first WRC2 champion.
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