Elfyn Evans given ‘an even fight’ after not nominated for Rally Italia
24th September 2026Toyota’s Elfyn Evans has been given an opportunity for an ‘even fight’ for the World Rally Championship season finale after not being selected for manufacturer points at Rally Italia Sardegna.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
The World Rally Championship points-leader, Evans has been confirmed not to be scoring points for Toyota at next weekend’s season finale, after Saudi Arabia was cancelled from the 2026 calendar.
It comes after the team has wrapped up and sealed their 10th world championship title, and their sixth on the bounce, at Rally Chile, last time out. Meaning points for the team is no longer a necessity.
However, the drivers and co-drivers titles are still on the line for three crews; Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmundson, and Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen, with only 21 points separating the top three drivers.
Toyota has confirmed the decision not to nominate Evans for manufacturer points allows the Welshman flexibility under the regulations, allowing the team to provide him with an equal fight to fight his teammates for overall driver’s glory in Italy.
Speaking to Toyota, the team confirmed to ApexMotorsports.co.uk:
“With the manufacturers’ championship already secured and three of our crews in contention to win the drivers’ and co-drivers’ crowns, our focus as a team is to ensure that we provide each of them with a strong and reliable car so they have the best possible opportunity to challenge for the title in an even fight.
“Our nomination strategy allows additional flexibility under the sporting regulations to help us achieve this goal.”
Based on the regulations, it will allow Evans to take a fresher engine having competed more events with the same power unit pushing through recent gravel events, whilst Solberg and Pajari have much fresher engines than the championship leader.
It means the nomination will allow a more level playing field against the championship contenders.
However, on-road conditions will still be a factor in the upcoming season finale, as Evans will still be expected to open the road ahead of Pajari and Solberg, who will run after him, in slightly better conditions.
Read more WRC here:
- BBC secures 3-year WRC broadcasting deal
- Rally Saudi Arabia cancelled WRC confirm
- Solberg wins WRC Rally Chile as Toyota claim 10th title
- Oliver Solberg continues to head Rally Chile into final day
- Thierry Neuville rolls on first test of Rally Chile day two
- Oliver Solberg heads Rally Chile after day one morning loop
- Takamoto Katsuta’s South American woes continue in Rally Chile
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
