Elfyn Evans will head into the final round of the 2026 World Rally Championship in an unusual position.
Despite leading the drivers’ championship and still competing in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, the Welshman will not be nominated to score points for Toyota in the manufacturers’ championship. At first glance, the decision may seem surprising. Evans remains at the center of the title fight, and Toyota will field him in Sardinia as it prepares for the final rally of the season. However, the reason behind the decision is closely connected to one of the most important factors in rallying: engine mileage and reliability.
Toyota has chosen Sébastien Ogier and Oliver Solberg as its two manufacturer-nominated drivers for Rally Italia Sardegna. The manufacturers’ championship has already been secured by Toyota following the previous round in Chile, meaning there is no longer any need for the team to maximize its manufacturer points at the season finale.
Instead, the decision allows Toyota to approach the final event with a different priority. The key factor is the engine fitted to Evans’ Toyota.
Unlike some of his main rivals, Evans has gone through a long stretch of the season without retiring from a rally leg since Croatia. As a result, his engine has accumulated considerably more mileage than those used by some of the other leading Toyota drivers.
His championship rivals Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg have fresher engines. Solberg's engine was replaced following his accident in Greece, while Sébastien Ogier also received a fresh unit after his crash in Finland.
Pajari, meanwhile, competes for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2, giving his team greater flexibility over when to introduce a new engine.
Under the regulations, engine changes are permitted in certain circumstances, including when an engine has been damaged in an accident. This creates a situation where Evans could potentially be using an engine that has simply accumulated more operating cycles than those of his closest rivals.
Photo Credits: Toyota
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