WRC Sardinia: Solberg leads, Neuville out, title still open before the final day
The newsroomUpdated on October 3, 2026schedule3 minOliver Solberg leads Rally Italia Sardegna after Saturday as Neuville retires. Elfyn Evans keeps a 6-point championship lead going into the final day.
Key point
Solberg leads in Sardinia and Neuville is out; Evans (240 points) is only 6 points ahead of Solberg (234) with 10 bonus points on offer on Sunday.
Rally Italia Sardegna, the penultimate round of the WRC season, turned on its head on Saturday 3 October 2026. Oliver Solberg (Toyota) took the lead by winning stages 9 and 10, while Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), the overnight leader, retired. The championship remains very tight going into the final day.
Saturday: Solberg takes charge
Solberg took first place from Neuville as early as the tenth stage. Sébastien Ogier is second and Sami Pajari third in the provisional classification. Among the title contenders, Elfyn Evans (Toyota) stayed in the hunt without shining: he is fifth or fourth depending on the source, behind Adrien Fourmaux.
A double Hyundai blow
Hyundai had a dark day:
- Thierry Neuville retired right at the start of the second pass of the eleventh stage, after a problem at the rear of his i20 N Rally1, while running second.
- Adrien Fourmaux suffered two punctures, on stages 7 and 12, and lost valuable time.
A drivers' title still open
In the provisional championship, Elfyn Evans has 240 points and Oliver Solberg 234 points: only six points separate them. Sami Pajari also remains in the title fight.
On Sunday a maximum of 10 bonus points can still be taken: 5 points for Super Sunday and 5 for the Wolf Power Stage. The programme is made up of two stages run twice: Osilo–Tergu (23.71 km) and Sassari–Argentiera (7.10 km). The second run of Sassari–Argentiera is the Power Stage.
What to watch on Sunday
The win in Sardinia will be fought out between Solberg and Ogier, but the world title also depends on the bonus points, setting up a tense finale. The sources differ on some end-of-day time gaps; we are waiting for Sunday's official classification before publishing them.
La rédaction
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the Sardinia rally after Saturday?add
Oliver Solberg (Toyota), ahead of Sébastien Ogier, after winning stages 9 and 10.
Where does the world championship stand?add
Elfyn Evans has 240 points and Oliver Solberg 234, a gap of 6 points before the final day.
How many bonus points are available on Sunday?add
A maximum of 10: 5 for Super Sunday and 5 for the Wolf Power Stage.
Sources
- FIA — Solberg takes the Sardinia lead
- Autosport — title wide open after double Hyundai drama
- DirtFish — Neuville retires in Sardinia
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