Elfyn Evans Triumphs in a Swedish Thriller to Take WRC Championship Lead

Welsh Ace Holds Off Late Katsuta Charge in a Nail-Biting Finale

In a rally filled with ice-cold tension and white-knuckle racing, Elfyn Evans showcased his mettle by fending off a last-ditch attack from Toyota teammate Takamoto Katsuta to claim a stunning victory at Rally Sweden. The victory not only marked Evans’ 10th career World Rally Championship (WRC) win but also catapulted him into the top spot of the 2025 drivers’ standings.

The Welshman’s road to victory was anything but smooth, as he battled through a relentless three-day duel on Sweden’s frozen forests. Evans, behind the wheel of his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, endured an adrenaline-fueled back-and-forth exchange of the lead, ultimately sealing the deal in an electrifying final-day shootout. The razor-thin 3.8-second margin over Katsuta solidified Evans’ ice-cool composure under pressure.

An Intense Final Showdown

Sunday’s final leg began with a mere three-second gap between Evans and a fired-up Katsuta. The Japanese driver, determined to snatch victory, made an immediate statement by obliterating the timesheets in the 18.24-mile Vastervik 1 stage, besting Evans by 7.5 seconds and seizing the lead. But Evans, alongside co-driver Scott Martin, was not about to let the win slip away.

With a fierce rebuttal, Evans clocked the fastest time in the repeated run, reclaiming control by 3.7 seconds. The showdown came to a dramatic climax in the Wolf Power Stage, where Evans delivered a masterful drive to not only secure his victory but also collect crucial bonus points. Katsuta’s valiant effort forced him to settle for second, while Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville pushed to the absolute limit to claim the final podium spot, finishing just 11.9 seconds adrift of Evans.

The triumph is a massive boost for Evans, who now leads the championship by 28 points after two rounds.

“It’s been a fantastic weekend, but I made life difficult for myself on that first stage this morning,” Evans admitted. “That really sharpened my focus. We had to dig deep in those final stages, and I’m absolutely delighted with the result.”

Neuville Battles for Third, Rovanpera Struggles

Reigning WRC champion Neuville had to fend off a resurgent Ott Tanak to clinch third, barely holding off his Hyundai teammate by a slim 4.9-second margin. Tanak, plagued by engine mapping issues on Saturday, came roaring back in Sunday’s final leg, matching the frontrunners’ pace but ultimately running out of time to mount a podium challenge.

Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanpera, meanwhile, endured a frustrating outing. The Toyota star never quite found his rhythm on the new-for-2025 studded Hankook tires, struggling to match the leaders’ pace. He finished a distant fifth, trailing Tanak by 16 seconds.

WRC2: Solberg’s Swedish Masterclass

While the top-tier Rally1 battle raged on, Oliver Solberg dominated the WRC2 category with an emphatic home victory. Piloting his PrintSport Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, the Swede was simply untouchable, cruising to a third consecutive Rally Sweden WRC2 win with a commanding 42.5-second margin over Finland’s Roope Korhonen.

“It’s an incredible relief to take this win,” an elated Solberg said. “To do it three years in a row, with a new car, and on home soil—it’s just an amazing feeling.”

What’s Next: Safari Rally Kenya

The WRC caravan now heads to Africa for one of the sport’s most grueling challenges—Safari Rally Kenya. Scheduled for March 20-23, the event is infamous for its punishing terrain, unpredictable weather, and car-clogging fesh-fesh dust. Shortened from the brutal marathons of old, the modern Safari Rally still demands absolute resilience from man and machine.

Final Standings: Rally Sweden

1. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 2h33m39.2s
2. Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +3.8s
3. Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +11.9s
4. Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +16.8s
5. Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +32.8s
6. Martins Sesks/Renars Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) +2m09.4s
7. Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2m27.0s
8. Gregoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) +4m08.6s
9. Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2 winner) +8m23.1s
10. Roope Korhonen/Anssi Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2) +9m05.6s

Championship Standings After 2 Rounds

Drivers’ Championship

1. Elfyn Evans – 61 points
2. Sebastien Ogier – 33
3. Kalle Rovanpera – 31
4. Thierry Neuville – 29
5. Ott Tanak – 26
6. Takamoto Katsuta – 25

Manufacturers’ Championship

1. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – 120 points
2. Hyundai World Rally Team – 72
3. M-Sport Ford – 25
4. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 – 11