Volkswacht Bodensee - Evans wins Rally Sweden to top championship standings

Sweden was the second event of 14 in the calendar and with Monte Carlo winner Oliver Solberg, also in a Toyota, only finishing fourth, Evans moved 13 points clear of the Swede.

Frenchman Sebastien Ogier, who pipped Evans for the title in the final rally last season, did not take part for family reasons.

"Obviously pretty chuffed and relieved right now," said Evans who finished 14.3 seconds ahead of team-mate Takamoto Katsuta.

"Thanks to the team, they've done an incredible job again, and a Toyota 1-2-3-4 feels amazing. It's always an amazing atmosphere in Sweden and it's a special rally for many reasons."

Evans previously won Rally Sweden, the only snow event of the season, in 2020 and 2025.

Sami Pajari finished 46sec behind to complete the podium and make Toyota the first manufacturer since Citroen in 2010 to claim back-to-back podium lockouts in the WRC.

They now have a 51-point advantage over Hyundai in the manufacturers' championship.

The Hyundais of Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville managed only fifth and seventh, a long way behind the Toyotas.

The third round of the season will see a radical change of conditions as the cars head to Kenya next month for the Safari Rally.

M.Schneider--VB