Evans second as Solberg wins Rallye Monte Carlo

Elfyn Evans finished in second place at a demanding opening round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) season in Monte Carlo.

Wales' Evans and co-driver Scott Martin finished 58 seconds behind team-mate Oliver Solberg, with reigning world champion Sebastien Ogier completing a podium clean sweep for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

However, there was disappointment for Irish drivers Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean as both M-Sport Ford team-mates crashed out on the penultimate stage.

It was an unfortunate end to his WRC debut for Fermanagh's Armstrong who started the final day in sixth place, having been as high as third on the opening day.

On a weekend when the whole field struggled at times with wintry weather, 24-year-old Solberg and his British co-driver Elliott Edmondson dominated from start to finish.

"Massive congrats to Oliver and Elliott, he has done an amazing job," said 37-year-old Evans.

"They both deserve it. Well done to the team."

Sweden's Solberg, who was last year's WRC2 champion, was racing his first event as a full-time Rally1 driver.

"It was the most difficult rally I've done in my life and it's my first rally in the car on tarmac, first rally back at the full level," he said.

"Here we are winning the whole thing. It's so demanding, it's been so stressful, just a big thank you to Toyota and the belief that I could deliver for you."

Japan's Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston, from Northern Ireland, placed seventh having suffered from power-steering issues.

Armstrong and McErlean's retirement meant M-Sport failed to score a WRC point for the first time in over 24 years, since Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz and Mark Higgins failed to finish the 2001 Rally GB.

Evans finished second at Monte Carlo 12 months ago behind Ogier and ended the season as a five-time WRC runner-up when the Frenchman overtook him at the top of the standings in the final race of the season.

The second round of the 14-race 2026 calendar is Rally Sweden, from 12-15 February.

1. Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Toyota, 4 hours 24 minutes 59 seconds

2. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, +51.8s

3. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, +2m 2.2s

4. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, +5m 59.3s

5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +10m 29.8s

6. Leo Rossel (France), Citroen, +12m 58.4s (WRC2)

RET Jon Armstrong (Ireland) Ford

RET Josh McErlean (Ireland) Ford