Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team achieved a historic 1-2-3-4 end within the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship’s Rally Sweden, marking the second consecutive spherical the place the crew locked out the rostrum. Elfyn Evans led the cost, claiming victory and securing his third profession win in Sweden.
The Welsh driver, alongside co-driver Scott Martin, maintained a robust efficiency all through the rally, in the end profitable by a margin of 14.3 seconds over teammate Takamoto Katsuta. This victory comes after the same triumph at Rallye Monte-Carlo, making Evans some of the profitable non-Nordic drivers within the occasion’s historical past.
Katsuta, guided by co-driver Aaron Johnston, completed second, marking his eighth profession podium within the WRC. The Japanese driver excelled on the snow-covered roads, showcasing his rising prowess in winter situations.
Young Finnish driver Sami Pajari, with co-driver Marko Salminen, accomplished the rostrum with a third-place end. Pajari’s efficiency was a major rebound from a difficult Rallye Monte-Carlo, securing his second profession podium.
Oliver Solberg, who entered the occasion because the championship chief following a win in Monte Carlo, completed fourth. Despite a difficult begin, Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson managed to get well and contribute to Toyota’s unprecedented consequence.
In the WRC2 class, Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally2 automobiles additionally achieved a one-two end, with Finnish driver Roope Korhonen and co-driver Anssi Viinikka taking the victory.
Akio Toyoda, chairman of the Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, praised the drivers’ performances, highlighting the contributions of youthful crew members like Pajari and Solberg. Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala expressed satisfaction with the crew’s general efficiency, emphasizing the drivers’ capacity to keep up aggressive speeds whereas avoiding main errors.
As the championship progresses, Evans leads the drivers’ standings with 60 factors, adopted by Solberg with 47 and Katsuta with 30. The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team holds a commanding lead within the producers’ championship with 117 factors, effectively forward of Hyundai’s 66.
The subsequent spherical of the WRC would be the Safari Rally Kenya, scheduled for March 12-15. Known for its difficult situations, the occasion will check the groups on tough and rocky roads, providing a stark distinction to the snow and ice of Sweden.