Oliver Solberg Dominates Monte-Carlo Rally 2026, Leaving Experienced Rivals Behind

Monte Carlo, January 25 - The world of World Rally Championship (WRC) officially kicked off with the 94th edition of the iconic Monte Carlo Rally, running from January 22-25.

In this highly competitive event, Oliver Solberg emerged as the winner, dominating from the very first special stage. This is his second victory, following his win in the Estonia Rally last season.

Driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT this season, Solberg took the top spot in the Rally1 category after facing intense competition from his teammates, Elfyn Evans and Sebastien Ogier, as well as Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai.

Solberg, son of the 2003 WRC champion Petter Solberg, was not without challenges. He experienced a moment of uncertainty on Saturday, but managed to regain control and secure his win with a significant 51.8-second lead over Evans.

Elfyn Evans, who finished in second place, initially led the rally but was overtaken by Solberg in the second special stage. Although he was unable to regain the top spot, Evans secured the Power Stage victory, contributing to his points tally.

Sebastien Ogier, the defending champion and last year's winner, settled for third place - his lowest finish in Monte Carlo since 2012.

Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville rounded out the top five, but were 5-10 minutes behind the Toyota trio in the podium.

The Monte Carlo Rally presented a significant challenge for both Hyundai drivers. Fourmaux lost 30 seconds on Thursday, followed by electrical issues and a spin on Saturday. Meanwhile, Neuville got stuck on Friday and lost three minutes. He also experienced a tyre blowout on Sunday, forcing him to replace a tyre.

Unfortunately, M-Sport Ford faced some misfortune, with Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong involved in an accident on Sunday.

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