DINAS Mawddwy driver Elfyn Evans admitted he was almost lost for words after finally becoming World Rally Champion following one of the most dramatic title deciders in the sport's history.

After finishing runner-up five times in the previous six seasons, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin secured their first FIA World Rally Championship crowns for Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team on the final stage of Rally Italia Sardegna.

Reflecting on the achievement, Evans said: “It's still not really sinking in yet that we've managed to get the championship across the line after such a wild final day.

"We came into it knowing it would be tight and tried what we could today, but there was massive cleaning on the first stage. We managed to pull back some time on the second, but then at the start of the third there were rocks everywhere and we tried to pull our way through, but immediately we punctured.

"Then we had to lay it all on the line for the Power Stage. It was a messy run so I was pretty sure I hadn't done enough and Oliver was coming quicker until he had that moment near the end.

"I feel sorry for him and Elliott because they drove an incredible weekend. But we didn't only win it there, it was a whole year's worth of work and I think it's a championship to be proud of.

“It's a bit of a relief after coming close so many times, and I've got a lot of people to thank for backing me through the years, especially Scott and the team.”

The championship battle went down to a winner-takes-all showdown between Evans and team-mate Oliver Solberg. Entering the final Power Stage separated by just a single virtual point, whoever set the fastest time would be crowned world champion.

Solberg appeared on course to snatch the title as he set quicker split times throughout the stage, but the Swede ran off the road two corners before the end. Although he recovered to win the rally overall, he lost enough time to finish the stage 8.9 seconds behind Evans, handing the Welshman a long-awaited first world title.

Evans arrived in Sardinia leading a three-way title fight involving Solberg and Sami Pajari, with all three drivers chasing a first world championship.

The season finale proved a stern test on Sardinia's rough gravel roads. As championship leader, Evans had the difficult task of opening the road on Friday and ended the day sixth overall, while Solberg climbed into contention before taking the rally lead on Saturday.

Sunday brought more drama when Evans suffered a puncture and was forced to stop to change a wheel, costing nearly two minutes and leaving his title hopes hanging by a thread heading into the final stage.

His eventual triumph caps seven seasons of competing at the sharp end of the championship and makes him the first Welsh driver to win the World Rally Championship. The title was built on trademark consistency throughout 2026, backed up by victories in Sweden and Japan.

The success also continued Toyota's dominance of the sport, with a seventh drivers' championship in the past eight seasons, while Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson finished second in the standings, just five points behind Evans and Martin.