Toyota DOMINATES Rally Sweden! Evans Wins - What Happens Next?!

Elfyn Evans has stormed to victory at the 2026 Rally Sweden, grabbing the WRC championship lead in the process! It was a truly dominant weekend for Toyota Gazoo Racing, who locked out the top four positions in an utterly remarkable display of snow driving prowess.

Toyota DOMINATES Rally Sweden! Evans Wins - What H...

This second round of the FIA World Rally Championship, held amidst the picturesque, snow-covered landscapes of Sweden, saw Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin put on a masterclass. Their consistent performance and skillful navigation through the icy stages culminated in a historic 1-2-3-4 finish for the Toyota team. This is the kind of result that leaves other teams scratching their heads and wondering what they need to do to catch up.

Starting the final day with a comfortable 13.3-second lead, Evans wasn't about to let it slip. He maintained a cool head and a controlled pace through the three remaining snow stages, ultimately crossing the finish line 14.3 seconds ahead of his nearest rival. For Evans, it's his third Rally Sweden victory, and more importantly, it catapults him to the top of the drivers' championship standings. I've seen a lot of rallies over the years, and the composure Evans showed was truly something special.

And get this: Toyota's incredible 1-2-3-4 finish marks the first time a manufacturer has achieved a podium lockout in two consecutive WRC events since Citroën back in 2010. That's some serious history being made right there.

Evans wasn't content with just the overall win. He also went for maximum points in the Wolf Power Stage, securing the second-fastest time, a mere 0.078 seconds behind Thierry Neuville. That extra bit of effort really paid off, adding valuable points to his championship campaign.

"I'm both relieved and very happy," Evans said, understandably pleased with the team's performance. He described the 1-2-3-4 finish as "incredible," and honestly, I can't argue with that. This result puts Evans a solid 13 points ahead of teammate Oliver Solberg in the driver standings. Meanwhile, Toyota has extended their lead in the manufacturers' standings to a whopping 52 points over Hyundai. The pressure is definitely on for the rest of the season.

Takamoto Katsuta, who had briefly led the rally on Friday, put in a strong performance, even setting the fastest time in the penultimate stage. However, the young Japanese driver ultimately couldn't quite seize the opportunity for his maiden WRC victory, finishing in a respectable second place. Sami Pajari rounded out the podium, delivering a consistently solid drive to earn his second WRC podium finish. Solberg, after recovering from a puncture and an off-track excursion on Friday, managed to claw his way back to fourth place.

Hyundai Motorsport had a tougher time in Sweden. Adrien Fourmaux finished fifth, becoming the team's highest-placed driver, while Esapekka Lappi, back in the driving seat, ended up in sixth. Neuville, despite struggling with the car's balance throughout the weekend, managed to salvage maximum points with a Power Stage win. M-Sport Ford also faced challenges, with Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean finishing eighth and ninth, respectively. Mārtiņš Sesks showed flashes of brilliance with stage-winning pace but couldn't improve his overall position due to earlier issues. Roope Korhonen dominated the WRC2 category, winning by a comfortable 11.2 seconds and even cracking the overall top 10 – an impressive feat!