Robert's Rally Buzz - November 2026

Elfyn & Scott are World Champions

At long last, Britain has a new World Rally Champion. It has been 25 years since the last one! Last month, Welshman Elfyn Evans and his English co-driver Scott Martin beat their Toyota teammates, Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson, on a dramatic final stage of the final round, Rally Italy in Sardinia, to win the 2026 WRC by just five points.

Evans and Martin had previously been WRC runners up no less than FIVE times! They had led the 2026 championship for most of the second half of the year. Going into the final event in Sardinia, Evans led Sami Pajari by 17 points and was 21 ahead of Oliver Solberg, who had moved into the title frame by winning the penultimate rally in Chile. Evans only needed a good result on the three-day event to be crowned champion. He ran in fifth place after Saturday’s day-two stages. Four stages remained on Sunday.

Then came the drama! Evans lost 1m 45 secs with a penultimate stage puncture. Oliver Solberg then only had to beat him on the final Rally Italy Powerstage to win the coveted 2026 WRC title by a single point. Having done all the hard work in the first half of the tricky four-mile test to lead the pack, the Swedish/Norwegian driver lost control and went off two corners from the flying finish, loosing vital seconds. In the end Oliver finished 8.9 seconds down on Elfyn’s time. Unbelievably, Elfyn Evans was the 2026 World Rally Champion!

Oliver Solberg won Rally Italy, and he finished second in the World Championship, five points behind Elfyn Evans, but this was poor consolation for what might have been. Having been handed a golden opportunity to win the title, Oliver was devastated! Sami Pajari was third in the series only a point behind Solberg. They are both young enough, so their days will certainly come! Congratulations World Champions Elfyn & Scott.

Osian Price is British Champion

There was also a dramatic end to the 2026 British Rally Championship. Welshman Osian Price (who comes from a neighbouring village to Elfyn Evans family home) beat Max McRae by just 1.2 seconds on the final stage of the final Cambrian Rally to win the BRC title for the second time. Price and Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 teammate Meirion Evans plus Max McRae were all in contention for the title heading into the final round in North Wales. In fact these three were the ONLY serious BRC contenders this season!

Evans and co-driver Dale Furness slid off and retired mid event while McRae & Cameron Fair were 14.9 seconds down on leader Price at the mid-point service after a spin. Then Max, driving a latest Skoda Fabia RS, turned up the wick and charged after Osian and co-driver James Morgan. Fastest time on all four remaining stages wasn’t quite enough. The Australian native, son of Alister and the late Colin’s nephew, finished 1.2 seconds down to the new champion. Max McRae, second in the rally and second in the championship!

The Cambrian Rally took place in some of the toughest conditions seen in recent years on a UK forest rally as Storm Boelo swept across North Wales. Whichever direction Max McRae’s rallying career takes in the future, It’s bound to be a successful one.

Here in Northern Ireland; Jonny Greer & Niall Burns won the DOGLEAP RALLY last month. The event, organised by Maiden City MC was the fourth and final round of the 2026 NI Forest Rally Challenge and also the last round of the 2026 Irish Forest Rally Championship.

There were four gravel stages run twice in the Limavady area of Co. Derry. We provided rescue and marshalling cover. Unfortunately I wasn’t available for this the final stage rally of our season (ok there is a minor event over the Christmas break).

Josh Moffett had already won the 2026 Irish Forest Championship on the penultimate round two weeks before the Dogleap, so the Monaghan man was not on the 60-strong entry list. The win for Greer, already the 2026 Northern Ireland Rally Champion, came in his usual Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Second were last year’s winners Niall Devine and Liam McIntyre in their VW Polo GTI R5 while rally sponsors Jordan & Paul Hone finished third in an older spec Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo. There were 20 class one (Rally2/R5) cars. Best 2WD crew were Damien Tourish and Rory Kennedy who finished 17th overall in their Historic spec Ford Escort Mk2. Altogether 49 competitors finished the Dogleap Rally, which was held in ideal dry and sunny conditions.

Winners of the 2026 NI Forest Challenge were Carlow driver David Condell and  his Kilkenny co-driver Michael Coady in their Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The pair were the most consistent over the four rounds. Jonny Greer & Niall Burns finished runners up, only 16 points behind Condell, despite missing round one. A great result, and proof that Jonny & Niall were the best “all-surface” crew on the Northern Ireland stages this year! Jordan & Paul Hone were third in the NI Challenge. Best 2WD crew were Ashley & Jake Rutledge in their BMW E46.

Lost Friends

Just last month, BMMC/BRMC (NI) lost three long time friends and supporters of the club. Ironically, the three gentlemen in question had the same Christian name.

IAN LYNAS from Portadown, who passed away after a long illness on October 8th, was a well respected international motoring/motorsport journalist and photographer. I had known Ian since the club’s early days at Kirkistown back in the early eighties. He even sponsored overalls for marshals through his photographic business. Ian was a great friend and a gentleman. He always had time for a chat about all things racing and rallying. He will be badly missed by us all. My condolences to his wife Hilary and the wider family circle at this sad time.

IAN PORTER from Poyntzpass died suddenly in October. Ian was a long time supporter of all rally events in Northern Ireland. He was an very experienced co-driver to many great drivers down through the years. More recently, Ian acted as Competitor Liaison Officer on numerous NI stage rallies and also, with his wife Hazel, covered many a time control. Ian was present at our annual BMMC/BRMC training day back in April (as he was every year) and I enjoyed talking to him about what was happening on the WRC and all the local rally gossip. A perfect gentleman. My condolences to Hazel and the wider family circle.

IAN REGAN from Belfast also passed away last month. He was an enthusiastic and successful co-driver for many years and lately supported many rallies with his expertise in the role of safety car crew and other official duties. Again, Ian was a friend to all of us in BMMC/BRMC. He was always smiling and joking and had time for everyone. Deepest condolences to his brother Billy, also a well respected co-driver and rally official, the whole Regan family circle and their many friends.

2025 Marshal of the Year

David Hodgkinson wins the British Rally Marshals Club Marshal of the Year Award 2025 (The Jimmy McRae Award)

The British Rally Marshals Club (BRMC) are proud to announce that the winner of the 2025 Marshal of the Year Award (The Jimmy McRae Award) is David Hodgkinson.

David became a member of BRMC on visiting our stand at Autosport International some 10 years ago and has supported the club ever since. A regular on BRMC stages, he can usually be found around stage time controls working enthusiastically whatever the situation. Always willing to help and assist.

The Jimmy McRae Award is presented each January and recognises a current BRMC member who has best represented the club throughout the preceding year. It is not intended simply to reward attendance, but to mark someone who has made a real difference.

So, if you know a BRMC club member who stands out, who really makes a difference? Why not nominate them to become the next recipient of the Jimmy McRae Award. You can do this at any time by completing the on-line nomination form, HERE. Just remember they must be a current BRMC member.