Elfyn Evans Wins Rally Japan, Extends WRC Lead by 20 Points
Elfyn Evans secured victory at Rally Japan, finishing 12.8 seconds ahead of Sebastien Ogier. The win increased his championship advantage to 20 points at the halfway mark of the 2026 season.
bbc.co.ukElfyn Evans won Rally Japan for the third time in four years, finishing the event 12.8 seconds ahead of Sebastien Ogier. Sami Pajari placed third, 51.4 seconds behind the winner. Evans took the lead after stage two on Friday and maintained it through the remaining 18 stages. He won five of the 20 stages overall.
At the halfway point of the 14-round series, Evans leads Takamoto Katsuta by 20 points. Katsuta finished fourth in the event. Oliver Solberg crashed out of contention on stage 12 but rejoined to claim maximum Sunday bonus points. He sits third in the standings, 49 points behind Evans.
The series moves to the Acropolis Rally in Greece from 25-28 June.
The event will be held on gravel surfaces.
Transparency
Reported by a single outlet. This score reflects source tier and factual specificity — corroboration is limited with one source.
Story details
Related Stories
nypost.comUnited States Edges Senegal 3-2 in Pre-World Cup Friendly
The United States men's national team beat Senegal 3-2 on May 31 at Bank of America Stadium. The result came in the team's first match since March losses to Belgium and Portugal.
yardbarker.comRoman Reigns Defeats Jacob Fatu to Retain WWE World Heavyweight Title at Clash in Italy
WWE held its first premium live event in Italy on May 31, 2026, in Turin. Roman Reigns defeated Jacob Fatu in the main event and retained the WWE World Heavyweight Championship.
Socceroos Name 26-Player Squad for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Australia's squad includes two uncapped players and veterans Mat Ryan and Mathew Leckie, who are set to appear at a fourth World Cup. The announcement was made on 1 June 2026.