Toyota Dominates WRC 2026 Monte Carlo with Oliver Solberg Breaking New Records

mobilinanews (Monaco) - Oliver Solberg's sensational debut continued on the final four special stages of the Rally Monte Carlo on Sunday (25/1).

The 24-year-old won not only the championship but also broke the record for the youngest rally winner in the history of the WRC Monte Carlo, ending a 17-year-old record held by Sebastien Ogier in 2009, or 25 years old when Solberg was just 7 years old.

Ogier, one of the winners with the most victories in Monte Carlo, 10 times, only finished third. Losing to Elfyn Evans, who took second place.

The three Toyota drivers who occupied the podium dominated the competition from the start. Describing the potential of the Japanese manufacturer to take over the season.

Starting the race on Sunday morning with a significant lead over Evans and Ogier, it turned out to not be easy for Solberg and his navigator Elliott Edmondson dealing with the slippery track conditions.

On SS16, for example, the Yaris GR Rally1 driven by the pilots was initially slipped and drifted into the wrong lane. However, with a speedy correction, Solberg quickly returned to the track. Yes, there was an element of luck, just like he experienced on Saturday.

"I don't understand how it happened. This was a very emotionally draining rally," said Solberg, the new WRC2 champion in 2025 who has been promoted to the main class.

"This was the most challenging rally I've ever driven. It's also my first asphalt rally with this car and we've won it. I must thank Toyota for believing in me. The team's collaboration is amazing," he added.

In addition to the champion's trophy and the record-breaking young champion in Monte Carlo, Solberg also became the debut driver to occupy the top of the temporary world championship standings in his first appearance.

He completed the entire event with a total of 17 special stages with a time difference that was extremely large from his two senior drivers in Toyota Gazoo Racing. Evans he beat by a time difference of 51.8 seconds and Ogier by a gap of 2 minutes 2.2 seconds.

Their rivals, including those from the Hyundai team, Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville, finished in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

For now, Toyota dominates the perally and manufacturer standings heading into the second WRC 2026 series in a month in Sweden's Rally on an icy track (r).