Solberg Survives Scare to Retain Monte-Carlo Lead on Day of Alpine Chaos

MONTE CARLO – The treacherous slopes of the French Alps lived up to their fearsome reputation on Saturday, turning Day 3 of the 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo into a high-stakes game of survival. In a day defined by black ice, slush, and snowbanks, Toyota’s young sensation Oliver Solberg defied the odds—and physics—to maintain his lead, despite a heart-stopping off-road excursion that nearly ended his fairytale run.

The drama peaked on SS12 (La Bréole / Bellaffaire), where Solberg, pushing to defend his advantage against teammates Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier, lost the rear of his GR Yaris Rally1 on a patch of fresh snow. The car ploughed through a fence and into a field, leaving spectators breathless. In a display of raw talent and luck, Solberg kept the throttle pinned, wrestling the machine back onto the tarmac to not only survive but incredibly win the stage.

"I tell you: my god! That is the craziest stage I've ever done in my life," a shell-shocked Solberg said at the stage end. "I had ruts in my pacenotes, I was just trying to follow them and on one exit there was full snow... I was lucky. Very lucky."

While Solberg escaped, others were not so fortunate. The unforgiving conditions claimed Toyota’s Sami Pajari, who crashed out of fourth place on the morning loop after sliding wide into a snowbank and striking a tree. Hyundai’s Hayden Paddon also fell victim to the ice, sliding off the road and losing over four minutes as spectators scrambled to push his i20 N back into play, dropping him out of the top 10. Rookie Jon Armstrong continued his trial by fire, clinging to an impressive sixth overall despite a puncture and clipping a bridge on SS10.

As the sun set, the action moved to the glitter of the Principality for the SS13 Super Special Stage on the Monaco Grand Prix circuit. Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux dazzled the crowds with the fastest time, but the night belonged to Toyota. The Japanese manufacturer locks out the podium places heading into Sunday, with Solberg holding a precarious lead of just over a minute.

Sébastien Ogier, chasing a record-extending 10th Monte victory, appeared resigned to a podium finish after struggling to match the leader's pace in the slush. "Top spot is too far," the Frenchman admitted. "I didn't put on a show tonight, I think we all look ridiculous here [on slicks], but that's how it is."

Top 10 Overall Classification (After Day 3)

1. O. Solberg / E. Edmondson (Toyota) – 2:11:13.1
2. E. Evans / S. Martin (Toyota) +1:04.7
3. S. Ogier / V. Landais (Toyota) +1:31.3
4. A. Fourmaux / A. Coria (Hyundai) +6:13.8
5. T. Neuville / M. Wydaeghe (Hyundai) +7:29.5
6. J. Armstrong / S. Byrne (M-Sport Ford) +10:06.1
7. L. Rossel / G. Mercoiret (Citroën - WRC2) +11:01.8
8. G. Munster / L. Louka (M-Sport Ford) +11:24.8
9. T. Katsuta / A. Johnston (Toyota) +11:47.1
10. R. Daprà / L. Guglielmetti (Skoda - WRC2) +12:29.5

Sunday Preview: The Col de Turini Awaits
The final day promises a sting in the tail with four stages covering 71.90km. Crews will face two loops of Col de Braus and the legendary La Bollène-Vésubie / Moulinet, which crosses the iconic Col de Turini. With ice reported on the pass, the Power Stage offers one last chance for heartbreak or glory. Solberg stands on the brink of a career-defining victory, but in Monte Carlo, the rally isn't over until the engines are silenced in the harbor.

Report: Neil McDaid 

Solberg Stuns in the Dark: Ice and Fog Define Chaotic Monte-Carlo Opener

GAP, FRANCE – The 94th Rallye Monte-Carlo roared into life on Thursday night, delivering a quintessential "Night of the Long Knives" that turned the leaderboard on its head. Under the pitch-black skies of the French Alps, the 2026 season opener reminded the world that in the WRC, bravery often outweighs machinery. But it wasn't a veteran master taming the elements; it was 24-year-old Oliver Solberg, promoted to the factory Toyota Gazoo Racing squad, who emerged from the frozen chaos as the shock leader.

The drama began on SS1 (Toudon – Saint-Antonin), a classic test returning after a 17-year hiatus. On wet but manageable tarmac, Elfyn Evans drew first blood for Toyota, edging Solberg by 5.6 seconds. However, the rally truly began on SS2 (Esclangon – Seyne-les-Alpes). The notorious stage, absent since 2016, was a nightmare of black ice and slush. While others tiptoed, Solberg threw caution to the wind, decimating the field with a time over 30 seconds faster than his nearest rival. His daring performance on the studded rubber vaulted him into a commanding lead, leaving legends like Sébastien Ogier and Thierry Neuville trailing in his wake.

The final test of the night, SS3 (Vaumeilh – Claret), descended into farce as thick fog blanketed the mountain. Visibility dropped to near zero, prompting furious radio messages from crews. Sébastien Ogier, hunting his 11th Monte victory, mastered the gloom to set the fastest time before the stage was eventually red-flagged for safety reasons. The neutralization caused confusion, but the headline remained: Solberg heads to the overnight halt with a stunning 44.2-second cushion.

In the Rally1 field, the surprises continued with rookie Jon Armstrong. The Irishman, making his top-flight debut in the M-Sport Ford Puma, drove with maturity beyond his years. despite a scare on SS3 where he slid off the road, the red flag protocol saw him awarded a notional time, keeping him firmly in the fight for a podium position—a sensational start for the underdog.

It was a disastrous night, however, for Toyota's other rising star. Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen saw their rally end almost before it began. Pajari crashed heavily early in the loop, retiring his GR Yaris Rally1 on the spot. Both crew members were reported unhurt, but the damage to the car was terminal for the day.

In WRC2, the battle was equally fierce. The much-anticipated return of Lancia saw a mixed start, with their Ypsilon Rally2 machines showing pace but struggling for consistency against the established order. Frenchman Eric Camilli capitalized on his local knowledge to lead the category in his Škoda Fabia RS, holding off a spirited charge from Léo Rossel in the Citroën.

As crews head to Gap for the short overnight rest, the service park is buzzing. The tire lottery has only just begun, and with more snow forecast for Friday's leg, the mountain is far from finished.

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Standings After Day 1 (SS3)

Overall Top 10 (WRC1 & WRC2 Mix)

1. Oliver Solberg (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 38:42.5* (Time est.)
2. Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +44.2s
3. Sébastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1:08.7
4. Jon Armstrong (Ford Puma Rally1) +1:12.4
5. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:15.9
6. Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:44.0
7. Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1:55.2
8. Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2:10.5
9. Eric Camilli (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +3:45.1 [1st WRC2]
10. Léo Rossel (Citroën C3 Rally2) +3:52.8 [2nd WRC2]

WRC2 Top 5

1. Eric Camilli (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2)
2. Léo Rossel (Citroën C3 Rally2) +7.7s
3. Chris Ingram (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) +14.2s
4. Arthur Pelamourgues (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) +25.6s
5. Cédric Cherain (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) +38.9s

(Note: Times for SS3 are provisional due to the red flag and notional times awarded to later runners.)

Report: Neil McDaid 

Devine Unstoppable in Donegal

Letterkenny, Ireland: Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan secured a historic third consecutive victory at the 2025 Wilton Recycling Donegal International Rally, held on June 20-22. The Derry-Kerry pairing led the event after the first day and managed their pace through a dramatic weekend to win by 20.5 seconds in their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.

Rally Overview & Stages

The three-day tarmac event covered over 270 competitive kilometers across 20 classic stages in County Donegal.

• Day 1 (Friday, June 20): The rally began with six stages in the Inishowen peninsula, including the famous Mamore Gap. Devine established an early lead here, ending the day ahead of Hayden Paddon.
• Day 2 (Saturday, June 21): Action moved to stages like Knockalla and Garrygort. This day proved pivotal, as major rivals suffered mechanical issues or crashed out, leaving Devine with a manageable lead.
• Day 3 (Sunday, June 22): The final day featured classic tests such as Atlantic Drive and Fanad Head. Devine maintained his composure to seal the hat-trick.

Top 10 Overall Results

Pos	Driver / Co-Driver	Car	Time	Gap
1	Callum Devine / Noel O'Sullivan	Škoda Fabia RS Rally2	2:23:30.2	–
2	Meirion Evans / Ger Conway	Toyota GR Yaris Rally2	2:23:50.7	+20.5s
3	David Kelly / Arthur Kierans	VW Polo GTI R5	2:24:53.1	+1:22.9s
4	Josh Moffett / Andy Hayes	Hyundai i20 R5	2:25:00.2	+1:30.0s
5	Michael Boyle / Dermot McCafferty	Škoda Fabia RS Rally2	2:26:48.2	+3:18.0s
6	Declan Boyle / Patrick Walsh	Škoda Fabia RS Rally2	2:27:33.5	+4:03.3s
7	Kevin Eves / Chris Melly	Ford Fiesta Rally2	2:28:09.6	+4:39.4s
8	James Ford / Neil Shanks	Citroën C3 Rally2	2:28:57.6	+5:27.4s
9	Ryan Loughran / Dale McGettigan	Ford Fiesta Rally2	2:29:58.6	+6:28.4s
10	Matthew Boyle / Gary Byrne	Ford Fiesta Rally2	2:31:33.8	+8:03.6s
[Source: 1.2.5]

Significant Incidents & Retirements

The rally saw high attrition among top contenders, dramatically altering the leaderboard:

• 
  Hayden Paddon (Rolled): The former WRC driver and current ERC champion was running 2nd overall after Day 1. He retired on Saturday afternoon (SS13) after rolling his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 on the second pass of Knockalla.

Jon Armstrong (Off Road): Armstrong fought for the lead early on but dropped back due to a rear differential issue on Saturday morning. After fighting back into podium contention, he crashed out on the very final stage (SS20).

• William Creighton (Retired): Running close to the front, Creighton slid off the road on Saturday's final stage due to a slow puncture. Although he finished the stage, he withdrew the car before Sunday's start.
• Mark Alcorn (Withdrawn): A local favorite in the modified class, Alcorn withdrew after Day 1 citing time lost from an incident at Coolcross and navigation issues.

Quotes from the Podium

• Callum Devine (Winner): "To be honest I was quite happy with my driving all weekend... Once I got into a lead I fell back into management [mode], but everything was top class. It just shows you the Tarmac Championship is pretty fast."
• Meirion Evans (2nd Place): Described the event as "the best racing I've ever had."

Report: Neil McDaid

Photos: David McDaid, Neil McDaid 

Callum Devine takes back to back victories at the 2024 Donegal International Rally

Callum Devine charging over High Glen on day 2 of the Donegal International Rally. Photo: David McDaid/ Rally World New  

After three intense days of Irish Tarmac action, Callum Devine and Noel O'Sullivan kept their cool to secure a second successive Donegal International Rally victory. The reigning Irish Tarmac Rally Champions made a steady start to the 20-stage classic, setting the fifth-fastest time on Donegal's Malin Head opener. Driving a Skoda Fabia Rally2 for the first time, Devine’s main intention was to stay within reach of early pacesetters Matt Edwards and Keith Cronin. When championship leader Cronin retired from top spot with suspension damage picked up from a stone wall collision on stage five, Donegal looked set to be a straight fight between Edwards and Devine.

Matt Edwards would again me denied victory in Donegal, a sligh off on Atlantic Drive on day three cost him the victory. Photo Neil McDaid / Rally World News

The two Irish Tarmac rivals traded times throughout Saturday's eight stages with Edwards holding onto a 16.2-second overnight lead. A down-on-power Ford Fiesta Rally2 cost Edwards some time at the start of Sunday's opener. Quick-thinking Edwards made an effective tweak to get his car back up to speed after the first kilometre but lost 3.1 seconds to Devine's stage-winning Skoda. Devine was putting the pressure on and before he knew it a second Donegal title was within his grasp. The constant corners of Atlantic Drive caught out Edwards when he misread a pacenote, ran wide, and damaged his Fiesta’s front-left suspension. Unbelievably the three-time British Rally Champion kept going, losing a minute to his rivals before making impromptu repairs ahead of the next Fanad Head test. Edwards’ never-say-die attitude ensured he stayed within the top four heading into Donegal's final service halt.

Meiron Evans used Donegal as a shake down for this new Toyota Yaris Rally2, decked out in the classic Castrol livery. Evan built speed throughout the 3 days as he came to grips with the new car, leaving him always in contention for the overall victory. Photo: David McDaid / Rally World News  

A 37.5-second lead for Devine dissipated on Donegal's penultimate Gartan test when he spun on an innocuous hairpin. Suddenly Meirion Evans’ Toyota Yaris Rally2 was only 20.3 seconds adrift and waiting to pounce on any further mistakes. Devine kept his emotions in check, however, to make a smooth sailing through the 19.9 kilometres of Fanad Head, recording a 17.4-second Donegal International Rally victory that propels him back up the 2024 Irish Tarmac Rally Championship's pecking order. A runner-up finish for Evans, and stand-in co-driver Ger Conway, was an impressive achievement for the Yaris’s ITRC debut. Evans’ best Donegal result to-date was made even more encouraging considering he finished day one 55.8 seconds adrift.

Four stage wins highlighted David Kelly’s supreme speed in his home county as he secured a maiden podium finish on an Irish Tarmac event. Kelly and trusty co-driver Dean O’Sullivan have shown big improvements this year and will be delighted with their result nine seconds behind Evans. Kelly, Evans, and Josh Moffett battled hard for positions throughout the rally with their fourth-place battle turning into a race for third when Cathan McCourt crashed out on Sunday's opening test. Moffett’s assault on a second Donegal International Rally win never really got going after suffering from pop-off valve and power steering issues on Friday. The Citroen C3 Rally3 pilot swapped places with Kelly on Saturday, picking up a fastest time in the process but couldn't match the 28-year-old’s pace on Sunday.

A spin on Gartan for Edwards added insult to injury after his earlier drama on Sunday afternoon and dropped him 4.8 seconds behind Moffett with one stage remaining. Knowing the value of every Irish Tarmac point, Edwards attacked Donegal's Fanad Head finale as if Moffett's fourth position was first. The Welshman completed Fanad 7.7 seconds faster than anyone else, moving ahead of Moffett to seal a fourth-placed finish - some consolation to an otherwise disheartening final day.

Michael Boyle completed Donegal's top six, fighting back from a time-sapping puncture on Lough Keel. Boyle benefitted from his father Declan’s gearbox-inflicted retirement from sixth on stage 18 before jumping ahead of Garry Jennings on Fanad Head.

Top five standings
1 Devine / O’Sullivan (Skoda Fabia Rally2) 2:18:18.9s
2 Evans / Conway (Toyota Yaris Rally2) +17.4s
3 Kelly / O’Sullivan (Volkswagen Polo R5) +26.4
4 Edwards / Moynihan (Ford Fiesta Rally2) +36.8
5 Moffett / Hayes (Citroen C3 Rally2) +48.8

Rally4

Photo: RALLY4 seen Ryan MacHugh and Declan Boyle take the overall class victory.
Photo: Neil McDaid / Rally World News 

Ryan MacHugh and Declan Boyle cruised through Sunday's Gartan, Atlantic Drive, and Fanad Head stages to seal a 17-second victory in the Rally4 class. MacHugh reigned supreme on Saturday's eight stages, extending a 5.7-second lead to an imposing 58.8-second advantage. Ioan Lloyd and Sion Williams had been in the mix ahead of Saturday’s Knockalla opener but his Peugeot 208 Rally4 caught fire on the famous coastal classic. A split in the car’s exhaust was to blame - Lloyd and Williams were thankfully unhurt.

Second-placed Kyle McBride struck Armco on Saturday morning and fell behind fellow Peugeot pilot Keelan Grogan. The duo fought tooth-and-nail for Rally4’s runner-up spot with McBride finally overturning the 7.7-second deficit on Sunday and finishing 19.2 seconds ahead of Grogan after Donegal's 20 stages. Matthew Boyle and Casey Jay Coleman completed the class’s top five positions.

Rally4 results
1 MacHugh / Boyle (Ford Fiesta Rally4) 2:31:36.3s
2 McBride / Mullen (Peugeot 208 Rally4) +17.0s
3 Grogan / Sherlock (208) +36.2
4 Boyle / Byrne (208) +4:05.0
5 Coleman / Moore (208) +4:16.5

McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC

Declan Gallagher and John McCarty in their Toyota Starlet winners of the modified class.
Photo: David McDaid / Rally World News

Declan Gallagher started Donegal's final day with a slender one-second lead over Kevin Gallagher's eye-catching Darrian. The Darrian quickly threw down the gauntlet on Gartan and Atlantic Drive, moving ahead of Declan Gallagher’s Toyota Starlet by 17.3 seconds. Just when it looked like Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Moore would sneak their third Donegal National victory in a row, their Darrian lay down on Fanad Head. A broken wire was diagnosed as the root cause but the 25-minute time loss was a gutting blow for the Donegal crew.

Kevin Gallagher and Ryan Moore in the Darrian seemed all but sure of another Donegal modified  victory until electrical gremlins stalled their progress on Fanad Head.
Photo: Neil McDaid / Rally World News 

Now holding a three-minute lead, Declan Gallagher's all-but-certain modified win was put in jeopardy when smoke billowed from his Starlet at the start of Donegal’s final loop of stages. Starved of oil his Starlet somehow limped through Fanad Head to ensure Gallagher achieved his first ever Donegal National Rally win. Gary McPhillips and Paul Sheridan clinched second, over two and a half minutes behind Gallagher and John McCarthy. Third in the national section went to David Moffett and Martin Connelly.

McEvoy Motorsport Modified ITRC results
1 Gallagher / McCarthy (Toyota Starlet) 2:24:18.5s
2 McPhillips / Sheridan (Ford Escort Mk2) +2:45.9s
3 Moffett / Connelly (Escort) +3:15.6
4 Bogie / Rowan (Escort) +3:18.2
5 Harvey / Doherty (Escort) +3:51.6

Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC

 Meirion Evans and Anthony O'Sullivan historic class winners. Photo; Neil McDaid / Rally World News

Evans and Anthony O’Sullivan sealed a 48.5-second win in Donegal's historic section. The Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC crew was promoted to first after the post-event disqualification of Tommy O’Connell’s Ford Escort RS1800. Defending winners Michael McDaid and Declan Casey set the pace on Saturday, building a 16.4-second lead over O’Connell after the eight stages. A collision with a round-bale chicane on Sunday's opening Gartan test ended McDaid’s hopes of another Donegal success and handed the historic mantle to Evans.

A rapid fastest time on stage 17, Fanad Head, catapulted John O’Donnell’s BMW M3 into second, just ahead of championship leader Tomas Davies. O’Donnell stretched out his advantage over Davies to 12.8 seconds on the next Gartan test to clinch the runner-up spot. Ray Breen claimed fourth in his Subaru Legacy with Hugh McQuaid completing the top five.

Sherwood Engines Historic ITRC results
1 Evans / O’Sullivan (Ford Escort RS1800) 1:47:20.9s
2 O’Donnell / Aiden Friel (BMW M3) +48.5s
3 Davies / Davies (Escort RS1800) +1:01.3
4 Breen / Morrissey (Subaru Legacy) +1:24.6
5 McQuaid / Byrne (Escort RS1800) +3:09.1

Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC

Junior winners Jason Wilkinson and Ciaran McGinley Photo: David McDaid / Rally World News 

Jason Wilkinson and Ciaran McGinley recorded an eight-second Junior win ahead of Ronan Dorrian’s similar Honda Civic. Jason Tease finished third, 2.9 seconds ahead of Patrick Doherty.

Paul Browne Plant Hire & Civil Engineering Junior ITRC results
1 Wilkinson / McGinley (Honda Civic) 50:29.3s
2 Dorrian / Browne (Civic) +8.0s
3 Tease / Megee (Civic) +44.0
4 Doherty / Boyce (Civic) +46.9

5 Baskin / Moore (Civic) +1:22.7 

Source credit: Motorsport Ireland