Against ice, snow, pressure, and the weight of history, Oliver Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson delivered a commanding victory at Rallye Monte-Carlo, sealing their second career WRC win and their very first as full-time WRC competitors. If there was ever a statement way to open a season, this was it.
All week long, Solberg drove with a rare blend of bravery and control. When others faltered, he pushed. When conditions turned cruel, he adapted. Monte-Carlo demanded everything — and Solberg gave more.
“I don’t understand it at the moment,” Solberg admitted, emotion heavy in his voice.“It is another emotional day. This was the most difficult rally I have done in my life.”
Behind Solberg, Toyota Gazoo Racing locked out the podium, with Elfyn Evans finishing second and Sébastien Ogier third, reinforcing Toyota’s authority as the benchmark team heading into 2026. It was a masterclass in depth, experience, and execution.
Adrien Fourmaux brought his Hyundai home in fourth, while Thierry Neuville settled for fifth — solid, but far from the dominance Hyundai arrived hoping to display. On these roads, hesitation is punished, and momentum is everything.
But this rally wasn’t about margins or points — it was about a moment.A new script has been written in Monte-Carlo.One where the future doesn’t wait its turn.For Oliver Solberg, this victory feels bigger than a trophy. It feels definitive. A signal to the paddock.
A shift in the hierarchy. Proof that belief, when paired with talent, can bend even the harshest rally to its will.
Monte-Carlo has spoken.And the season has been launched in unforgettable fashion.RallyFanatics.com
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