Toyota's young guns, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari, head into the final WRC round in Sardinia with a shot at snatching the drivers' title from Elfyn Evans. Solberg trails the Welshman by 21 points, while Pajari is 17 points adrift. Despite the odds, both are refusing to back down and are ready to apply pressure on the challenging gravel stages.
Pajari, who has won three of the last four rallies, is relishing the fight. "It's really nice to be in the championship fight with only one rally to go," he said. "I just need to do my best like in every rally, so nothing changes on my side." The Finn also expressed his fondness for Sardinia's twisty and narrow stages, believing the change in event timing won't alter the rally's character too much.
Solberg, victorious in the last round in Chile, remains optimistic despite the larger gap. "The championship has looked like a long shot at times, but we never gave up," he said. "We'll give it everything, and in a rally like Sardinia, anything can happen." He highlighted the stages' demanding nature, with fast sections requiring commitment and technical parts demanding patience.
Interestingly, Pajari holds a small advantage: he has one more win this season than Evans and Solberg, which could prove crucial in a tiebreak scenario. "I don't have much experience there, especially in the top category, but we had a good run to win the Rally2 class last year," he added. "We just have to aim for the top step again and see what happens."
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala is thrilled with the situation. He expressed pride in having three crews fighting for the title in Sardinia. "It's going to be very special," he said. "For our team, the most important thing is to provide them all with a strong and reliable car so they can have an even fight." Latvala also warned that Sardinia is a rough rally with many rocks, so drivers must calculate risks carefully.
With the final rally often decisive, the pressure will be immense. Evans, who has been consistent all season, must be wary of the young Toyota duo in top form. Solberg and Pajari have shown speed and consistency, and they won't let this opportunity slip away.
Rally Sardinia will be a mental and physical test for all drivers. With rough terrain and potentially hot weather, even the smallest mistake can be costly. For Solberg and Pajari, this is a chance to etch their names in history as first-time WRC champions. For Evans, it's about maintaining his lead and securing the title he has long coveted.
Baca Juga
Rally Chile terancam kehilangan tempat di WRC. Adrien Fourmaux membela kelayakan event ini jelang Rally Sardinia penutup musim 2026.
FIA ubah aturan ban jelang final WRC di Sardinia, alokasi naik jadi 40 ban. Juha Kankkunen beri pujian, Elfyn Evans pimpin klasemen.
Project Rally One, tim Belgia dengan 21 staf, ciptakan mobil WRC yang disebut seperti mobil pabrikan oleh Stephane Lefebvre. Simak potensinya di WRC.
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