SHERIDAN, WYOMING -- June 2, 2026 -- Elfyn Evans has claimed victory at Rally Japan for the third time in four years, headlining a stunning 1-2-3-4 finish for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team on their home roads in Toyota City. Sébastien Ogier and Sami Pajari joined Evans on the podium, with local fan favourite Takamoto Katsuta completing the remarkable four-car sweep. The result also marks Evans' 50th career WRC podium and extends his championship lead to 20 points at the halfway point of the 2026 season — a result that underlines just how dominant Toyota has been on Japanese tarmac.
A Masterclass on Japanese Roads
Evans and co-driver Scott Martin took control of the rally early, making the most of their road position on Friday's demanding Isegami's Tunnel stage to build an early advantage. From there, the pair managed the pressure from their own team-mates expertly through the remainder of the event. The narrow, twisting forest roads in the mountains of the Aichi and Gifu prefectures were made even more demanding this year by warmer temperatures exceeding 30 degrees centigrade — a new challenge brought on by the rally's move from its traditional November slot to late May.
The victory is the fourth consecutive win for the GR YARIS Rally1 at this event across five editions held in Toyota City. It also adds a milestone of a different kind: this Rally Japan marks the final time the current-specification Rally1 cars will compete on Japanese roads before new regulations come into force in 2027.
Evans' 50th Podium and a Growing Championship Lead
The numbers around Evans' win tell their own story. His 13th WRC victory and 50th career podium have come at exactly the right moment in the season, pushing his drivers' championship lead to 20 points over second-placed Katsuta. Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais, who won this rally in 2025, finished 12.8 seconds behind Evans after a fighting weekend, while rising star Pajari and Marko Salminen took third — their fifth podium in the last six rallies and their sixth top-three finish since breaking through at last year's Rally Japan.
Katsuta, competing in front of a passionate home crowd and arriving fresh from his first WRC victories in Kenya and Croatia earlier this season, overcame tyre damage on Friday morning to finish fourth and claim points on Sunday's Power Stage.
Solberg Shows Promise Despite a Painful Saturday
Oliver Solberg, making his Rally Japan debut in Rally1 machinery for Toyota, was in genuine contention for the win before sliding wide in a muddy corner on Saturday afternoon and damaging his rear suspension. Returning on the final day, Solberg rebounded impressively — winning three of the six Sunday stages including the Power Stage and taking the Super Sunday classification. It is the kind of raw pace that will have the rally world paying close attention.
A Milestone for the GR YARIS Rally1
The Power Stage result pushed a remarkable streak even further: the GR YARIS Rally1 has now achieved 50 consecutive stage wins on asphalt across its last three WRC rallies on tarmac. Toyota's manufacturers' championship lead has grown to 127 points over Hyundai as a result, with the team now sitting at 370 points in the standings after seven rounds.
In WRC2, TGR WRC Challenge Program driver Yuki Yamamoto secured his first podium in the category on his home event, finishing third in class aboard a GR Yaris Rally2. Fellow GR Yaris Rally2 driver Alejandro Cachón came agonisingly close to repeating his 2025 WRC2 victory, finishing just 18.3 seconds behind class winner Nikolay Gryazin.
What Happens Next
The WRC calendar now turns to one of the championship's most gruelling events. The Acropolis Rally in Greece, scheduled for June 25–28, is famous for its rocky mountain roads and punishing heat — a very different challenge to the smooth Japanese tarmac that suited Toyota so well this weekend. With a 127-point lead in the manufacturers' standings and Evans heading the drivers' table, Toyota heads to Greece with momentum firmly on their side.
Mini FAQ
Q: Where does Elfyn Evans stand in the 2026 WRC drivers' championship? A: Evans leads the standings with 151 points, 20 points ahead of second-placed Takamoto Katsuta after seven rounds.
Q: Is this the last time the current Rally1 cars will race at Rally Japan? A: Yes. New regulations come into force in 2027, making this the final appearance for the current-specification Rally1 cars on Japanese roads.
Q: How did Oliver Solberg finish despite his Saturday retirement? A: Solberg restarted on Sunday, won three stages including the Power Stage, and took the Super Sunday classification, though his overall result was significantly impacted by the time lost on Saturday.
Q: What is next for the WRC after Rally Japan? A: The Acropolis Rally in Greece runs from June 25–28.
For full official results and the latest championship standings, visit GR YARIS Rally1