Red-hot Elfyn Evans has fired another warning shot across the bows of his World Rally Championship title rivals, as he extended his championship lead despite a sixth-place finish in Estonia's Delfi Rally. The Welsh rally ace and co-driver Scott Martin were left ruing what might have been, finishing just over two minutes shy of the winner, but their silver lining was a vital boost to their WRC aspirations.
The 18-stage smash-and-grab that unfolded at Estonia's scenic stages saw Finland's Sami Pajari pull off an upset victory alongside co-driver Marko Salminen. This game-changing performance catapulted Pajari into third place in the overall WRC rankings, adding a fresh face to the championship mix as the season sizzles on.
The real damage was inflicted on Evans' nearest rival, Japan's Takamoto Katsuta, who crashed out of contention with a woeful 21st-place finish. This allowed Evans to bank eight precious points, catapulting him into an unassailable 15-point lead over Katsuta in the battle for the 2026 WRC crown. Evans now sits proudly on 177 points, while Katsuta's grip on second slips further with 152.
Elsewhere, Oliver Solberg and British co-driver Elliott Edmondson secured a hard-fought second place in Estonia, while Adrean Formaux claimed third spot ahead of Belgium's Thierry Neuville in fourth. French legend Sebastien Ogier rounded out the top five, but Ireland's Jon Armstrong's ninth-place finish was overshadowed by his countryman Josh McErlean's 43rd.
The road now stretches to just five rallies for Evans and his championship chasers as they eye the 2026 title. Next up is Finland, where the event from July 30 to August 2 will present a golden opportunity for Evans to further solidify his grip or for his rivals to pounce on any weakness.