Elfyn Evans starts the 2026 WRC season in Monte Carlo, determined to finally win a championship after finishing second five times. The Welshman lost the 2025 title by four points to Toyota teammate Sebastien Ogier, who claimed a record-equalling ninth crown. Evans admits the relentless calendar helps him move past disappointment.

The 36-year-old says the sport’s minimal downtime forces drivers to rebuild fitness quickly and focus on the next challenge. After weeks testing his new hybrid-less Toyota Yaris Rally1, Evans is ready for the season opener in the French Alps. He’s finished runner-up to Ogier three times, including 2020 when a crash cost him the title.

Evans now chases history as the third British WRC champion after Colin McRae and Richard Burns. The 2026 calendar features 14 events, with Rally Croatia replacing the Central European Rally and a controversial finale in Saudi Arabia. Evans finished second in Monte Carlo last year and knows the opening rally can be unpredictable.