Summary

  • Final stage of World Rally Championship season in Italy

  • Elfyn Evans wins title after Oliver Solberg crashes in final stage

  • The Welshman becomes only the third British world champion and the first in 25 years

  • Solberg's dad, Petter, won title in 2003

  • Read the report here: Evans claims WRC title after late Solberg crash

  1. Postpublished at 13:44 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    At 4.2km Evans is 2.5 seconds down on Neuville.

    He's pushing like crazy but the Hyundai man holds a small advantage.

    Remember, it's all down to time compared to Solberg in the bigger picture, however.

  2. Postpublished at 13:42 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    It's spectacular as Evans winds his way down the dusty Italian roads.

    He's 0.3 seconds down on Neuville at the first split. He is right on the limit.

  3. Postpublished at 13:41 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    You'll be doing well to beat Neuville's time, and Katsuta is 7.5 seconds down.

    All eyes are on Evans now!

  4. Evans into the stagepublished at 13:40 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    All or nothing now!

    Elfyn Evans is 7.1km and five minute away from possible glory.

  5. Welsh backing for Evanspublished at 13:39 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Welsh fans wait for Elfyn Evans at the finish lineImage source, BBC Sport

    Elfyn Evans will be greeted by Welsh fans at the finish line in Sardinia. Can he give the proud bunch plenty to cheer?

  6. Postpublished at 13:37 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    "It's been good to have a clean weekend with a strong result," said Jon Armstrong after the stage end.

    "It's not been an easy year and this was a rally to show we can put it together. A big thanks to everyone who has been supporting us, it's been a great year and it's been a privilege to drive this car."

  7. Best WRC result for Armstrongpublished at 13:36 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Jon Armstrong is through but it was a steady run and he's 19.4 seconds off Neuville.

    It's enough for a best-ever WRC finish for Armstrong, and that's a fine way to end his rookie season.

    If everyone else finishes the rally, that'll be seventh in the books.

    Takamoto Katsuta and Northern Ireland co-driver Aaron Johnston are into the stage, and then it'll be Evans.

  8. The WRC's nearly manpublished at 13:35 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Elfyn EvansImage source, Getty Images

    Wales' Elfyn Evans is aiming to become the first British driver to win the World Rally Championship since Richard Burns in 2001.

    The 37-year-old has been the WRC's nearly man and has been a championship runner-up five times - including in the past three years.

    Evans has led the championship for the majority of the season but has been extremely unlucky with punctures throughout the campaign - including in the last three rallies.

    Now it all comes down to one final push if he is finally to achieve his dream.

  9. Postpublished at 13:34 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    As Jon Armstrong makes his way through the stage, around six seconds down on Neuville, Elfyn Evans is getting ready to enter the stage.

    His helmet is on and his climbs into his Toyota.

    One final push.

  10. Postpublished at 13:32 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    "I don't know what to say, I'm super disappointed for the weekend but I'm delighted it's over," said an emotional Neuville at the stage end.

    The drivers absolutely love these Rally1 cars, which have been absolutely spectacular.

  11. Postpublished at 13:30 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    That was a mega run from Neuville, who crashed on Saturday to drop out of contention for the win.

    What could have been, eh?

    He's the fastest driver through by 14.4 seconds. He has demolished Sesks' time.

    Northern Ireland's Jon Armstrong, who is about to end his first WRC season, is now into the stage.

  12. Postpublished at 13:30 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Elfyn Evans is taking a moment to himself before he gets in the car.

    Presumably he's watching the footage of Neuville flinging his Hyundai through the stage to see where he can try and get an advantage.

    How are your nerves, folks?

  13. Postpublished at 13:27 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Thierry Neuville will be the first proper benchmark for the fastest overall time and he's absolutely on it!

    He's 4.7 seconds faster than Sesks through the first split!

  14. Postpublished at 13:26 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Elfyn Evans and Oliver Solberg statsImage source, Getty Images

    How do the two main title protagonists stack up?

  15. Postpublished at 13:25 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Martins Sesks beats McErlean's time by 4.3 seconds.

    The fastest driver through the Power Stage will claim five bonus points, second will get four and the points filter down to the top five times.

    Expect the times to drop as the cars come through. Next up, it's Thierry Neuville.

  16. Postpublished at 13:22 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Josh McErlean is through in a time of 5:12.9.

    "What a machine. They are going to be sorely missed," he said about the Rally1 cars, ahead of the change in technical regulations for next season.

    Martins Sesks, who has also had his dramas this weekend, is now into the stage.

  17. Off we go!published at 13:16 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Northern Ireland's Josh McErlean and his co-driver Eoin Treacy are the first car into the stage.

    They were running well as the top M-Sport Ford driver until they crashed into a tree on Saturday's penultimate stage and forced the crew to retire for the day.

    Just a reminder of the perils that lurk around every corner.

  18. The starting orderpublished at 13:15 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Here's the order the cars will enter the stage:

    Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (M-Sport Ford)

    Martins Sesks/Renars Francis (M-Sport Ford)

    Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai)

    Jon Armstrong/Shane Byrne (M-Sport)

    Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston(Toyota)

    Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota)

    Adrien Fourmaux/Alex Coria (Hyundai)

    Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota)

    Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota)

    Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmundson (Toyota)

  19. What happened on the rally so far?published at 13:13 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    As is so often the case in Italy, Rally Sardinia has been pretty dramatic.

    Coming into the final round as championship leader, Evans was the first driver into the stages, which is a disadvantage on dry gravel rallies.

    Solberg, starting third, was able to work his way into the lead of the rally as Evans struggled while cleaning the rocky, gravel roads for the drivers behind.

    Despite that, the Welsh driver was still in a good position and was on track to claim Super Sunday points but a puncture on the penultimate stage means it all comes down to the final Power Stage, where up to five bonus points are on offer.

  20. The permutationspublished at 13:09 BST 4 October

    Evans v Solberg for WRC title

    Elfyn Evans and the Championship standingsImage source, Getty Images

    After the dramas throughout the rally, the permutations are actually pretty simple.

    Whoever is fastest through the Power Stage between Elfyn Evans and Oliver Solberg will win the title.

    If they are level on points, then Solberg would win on count back as he would have three victories compared to Evans' two.

    Their Toyota team-mate Sami Pajari is still in the mix, but he would need both of his rivals to not finish the rally if he was to get enough points to come out on top.