Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin celebrated a distinguished victory at the recent Rally Sweden, which took place on February 13-15, 2026. The duo steered their Toyota Gazoo Racing car to a remarkable 1-2-3-4 finish, an accomplishment not seen since Citroën achieved the same in 2010, and this win elevated Evans to the top of the World Rally Championship (WRC) leaderboard.
Starting the final leg of the rally with a 13.3-second lead, Evans skillfully maintained his advantage throughout the last three stages, ultimately finishing at 14.3 seconds ahead of his teammate Takamoto Katsuta. Reflecting on his performance, Evans expressed his joy, stating, “Obviously pretty chuffed and relieved right now. We were not sure how the Power Stage was going to look. Thanks to the team, they've done an incredible job again, and a Toyota 1-2-3-4 feels amazing.”
His victory not only served as a personal triumph—his third win at Rally Sweden—but also established a significant milestone for Toyota, reinforcing their prominent standing in the championship. With this win, Evans gained a 13-point lead over competitor Oliver Solberg, marking a robust start to the season for the Welsh driver.
Meanwhile, Katsuta had shown promise earlier in the event, leading the rally on Friday, but ultimately fell short of his first WRC victory. Disappointed yet contemplative, he remarked, “I am not really happy of course. It could have been so much better, especially yesterday. I just need to keep improving and push more.”
Completing the all-Toyota lineup was Sami Pajari, who captured third place with a composed drive that kept him ahead of Solberg, who finished fourth after encountering difficulties earlier in the rally. The young driver reflected on his experience, adding, “I underestimated how difficult it would be on Friday. Of course, the result is a bit disappointing, but after the position I put myself in I don’t deserve any more than P4.”
The event proved to be challenging for Hyundai Motorsport, with Adrien Fourmaux securing fifth place for the team. Fourmaux made a decisive move past teammate Esapekka Lappi during SS17. Thierry Neuville, another Hyundai driver, faced a tumultuous rally but managed to clinch vital points by winning the Power Stage, albeit in frustration. He commented, “It was a frustrating weekend, struggling with balance issues.”
Adding depth to the competitive field, M-Sport Ford had Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. Mārtiņš Sesks exhibited impressive speed, even winning a stage, despite facing setbacks on the opening day.
In the WRC2 category, Roope Korhonen claimed victory with an impressive 11.2 seconds margin, rounding off the overall top ten.
As the 2026 WRC calendar unfolds, the rally teams prepare for their next challenge—the legendary Safari Rally Kenya, scheduled for March 12-15. With Evans now leading the championship, expectations are high as he and his fellow competitors gear up for another intense and thrilling rally.