Elfyn Evans wins World Rally Championship title after Solberg crash
Elfyn Evans is Britain's first World Rally champion in 25 years after Oliver Solberg crashed out of the season finale in Italy.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Elfyn Evans has won the World Rally Championship, becoming the first British champion in 25 years and the first Welsh driver to take the title. The 37-year-old clinched the crown after a dramatic final race in Italy, when his rival Oliver Solberg crashed out with only two corners left.
Evans had finished runner-up five times before. The title race went to the last drive of a season featuring 13 rounds and more than 200 stages. After a puncture on the previous stage, Evans faced a last-stage showdown. He crossed the line and then waited as Solberg, who was on course for the points he needed, tried to hold his pace to the finish. Solberg made a mistake near the end, and the error handed Evans the championship.
Evans now joins the late Richard Burns and Colin McRae as Britain's third World Rally champion. He celebrated with his co-driver, Scott Martin, and with his family. Reports described him driving at up to 90mph over rough terrain and cliff-edge roads in Sardinia.
In an interview after the win, Evans said it still felt surreal. He described a weekend of ups and downs and an incredible finish. He admitted he had not been confident as the stage splits came in. 'We gave everything we had but I wasn't particularly confident,' he said. He added that after so many years of trying he had started to think he might not get another chance. 'This time, it just worked out,' he said. 'It just shows that anything can happen in sport.'
Evans also spoke about his family and team. His father, Gwyndaf Evans, was British rally champion in 1996, and Evans said his father was celebrating before he was. He said many people had worked hard and travelled through the year to give him the best chance. He said having his name on the trophy next to McRae and Burns, his childhood idols, would be surreal.
The win makes Evans the first Welsh driver's champion. He said he was heading abroad the next day for testing ahead of 2027. He also joked about his celebratory dive into water, saying it had looked better in his head than in the footage.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Reported by all 2 channels | ||
| Elfyn Evans won the World Rally Championship, becoming Britain's first champion in 25 years and the third British champion overall. | Reported by BBC One | |
| Elfyn Evans won the World Rally Championship, becoming Britain's first champion in 25 years and the third British winner, after Richard Burns and Colin McRae. | ||
| Oliver Solberg made a last-minute mistake or crashed in Italy, allowing Elfyn Evans to clinch the World Rally Championship title. | Reported by BBC One | |
| Oliver Solberg made a mistake with two corners remaining. | ||
| The World Rally Championship title was decided on the final stage, with Evans citing a puncture on the previous stage, after 13 rounds and more than 200 stages. | Reported by BBC One | |
| Only on one channel | ||
| Elfyn Evans had finished as runner-up five times before this World Rally Championship win. | Not reported by Channel 5 | |
| Elfyn Evans said he was travelling abroad the next day for testing ahead of 2027. | Not reported by BBC One | |
| Evans said a puncture on the previous stage forced a full final-stage showdown. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One |
| Evans said he would travel abroad the next day for testing ahead of 2027. | Reported by Channel 5 | Not reported by BBC One |
| The final race in Italy was reported as a close contest. | Not reported by Channel 5 | Reported by BBC One |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This bulletin placed the WRC story after a separate Formula One item. Its report focused on the dramatic final-stage collapse by Oliver Solberg and on Evans's relief after five runner-up finishes, framing him as Britain's third world rally champion.
- “Elfyn Evans has won the World Rally Championship, titled the first Brit to do so in a quarter of a century.”
- “It was a nail-biting finish in Italy and a relief for the Welshman, who'd been runner-up no less than five times.”
- “Solberg made the mistake with just two corners to go. It meant everything to Evans.”
This version repeated the WRC report and also carried weather and international news. It kept the focus on the close finish in Italy, the wait after Evans crossed the line, and the last-minute Solberg error, while later carrying a Formula One result.
- “Now, the Welsh driver Elfyn Evans has become the first Brit in a quarter of a century to become world rally champion.”
- “Remarkably this season of 13 rounds and more than 200 stages came down to the last drive.”
- “After a lifetime on the road, he's now reached his destination.”
This was a short closing item with no package or interview. It gave the basic result, noted that Evans had been runner-up five times and that Solberg crashed in Italy, and described Evans as Wales's first driver's champion.
- “Finally, Elfyn Evans has become Britain's first world rally champion for 25 years.”
- “Evans, a five-time runner-up in the championship, clinched the title after his rival Oliver Solberg crashed a dramatic finish to the season in Italy.”
- “The 37-year-old is Wales' first driver's champion.”
This bulletin returned to the story with a live interview with Evans. It focused on the puncture that forced a last-stage showdown, his reaction after five runner-up finishes, his father's rallying background, family sacrifice, his place alongside Colin McRae and Richard Burns, and his immediate plans for 2027 testing.
- “Elfyn Evans who over the weekend became britain's first world Rally champion for 25 years”
- “there was that last minute mistake from oliver”
- “We're testing end of this week in preparation for 2027.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.