Rallying-Evans ends years of heartache to take first world title

Oct 4 : Elfyn Evans ended years of heartache, and a quarter-of-a-century wait for Britain, by finally winning the World Rally Championship (WRC) title with Toyota after a dramatic season finale in Sardinia on Sunday.

The Welshman had been championship runner-up five times in the last six years but emerged triumphant after a  final Powerstage duel with teammate Oliver Solberg ended with the charging Swede crashing out two corners from the finish while on course to take the crown.

Solberg, 25, ran wide and careered down a bank before getting the car back on the road. He still won the rally but lost the crucial bonus points on offer for the top five in the final stage.

Evans, with co-driver Scott Martin at his side, became the first British world rally champion since Englishman Richard Burns in 2001 and only the third since Scottish driver Colin McRae became the nation's first in 1995.

END OF AN ERA FOR RALLYING 

Sweden's Solberg, son of Norway's 2003 champion Petter, ended the season as runner-up. The final standings left Evans on 243 points, Solberg on 238 and Sami Pajari on 237 in what was also the end of an era for the sport with new regulations in force next year.

"It hasn't sunk in. I was sure it was over. I didn't drive the best stage but threw everything at it but it wasn't clean. I feel for Oliver. He had an incredible weekend," said Evans, who completed his final run first and had to watch and wait to see whether he had done enough to take the title.

"I don't really know what my reaction is, it's surreal with how it happened. It's a relief. It wouldn't be my proudest way of winning it, but it's job done," added the 37-year-old, who finished fifth in the gravel rally.

Evans had started the rally - the final round after