Fourmaux puncture bolsters Elfyn Evans in WRC title fight
3rd October 2026Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux has offered Toyota’s Elfyn Evans more breathing space in the title fight after being hit with a puncture at the World Rally Championship’s Rally Italia Sardegna.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
Evans has increased his championship advantage over the likes of his teammates, Oliver Solberg and Sami Pajari, after he benefits from Fourmaux’s puncture on SS12 at the WRC’s Rally Italia Sardegna.
On the stage after Thierry Neuville stopped his Hyundai out on an access road, Hyundai’s woes only got worse as their podium contender, Fourmaux, dropped down to fifth overall.
It marked the second puncture of the day for the Frenchman, having suffered and limped his car to the control finish at SS8. This time the puncture could not wait, and had to be changed out on the road, losing over a minute and a half in time to complete the swap.
As a result, it means that Toyota now enjoy a 1-2-3-4 running order, with Solberg heading Sebastien Ogier, Pajari and Evans, respectively.
After already having his championship lead extended to six points, after Neuville’s retirement, Fourmaux’s puncture means that advantage continues in Evans’ favour. The championship lead is now set to grow from six to eight points over Solberg, with the gap dropping slightly for Pajari to 14 points – instead of 15.
WRC title takes another twist as Thierry Neuville retires from Rally Italia Sardegna
Championship standings
- Elfyn Evans, Toyota – 242
- Oliver Solberg, Toyota – 234 (-8)
- Sami Pajari, Toyota – 228 (-14)
Read more WRC here:
- WRC title takes another twist as Thierry Neuville retires from Rally Italia Sardegna
- Oliver Solberg takes over WRC Rally Italia Sardegna lead inching closer to title
- Adrien Fourmaux takes blow to rally win chances at Rally Italia Sardegna
- Neuville snatches Rally Italia Sardegna lead on day two final stage
- ‘Doing the best job we can’ says Evans ahead of WRC Rally Italia Sardegna finale
- Rally Italia Sardegna: Full WRC stage times and guide
- Weather report: the latest forecast ahead of WRC Rally Italia Sardegna
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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.
