DOLGELLAU'S Elfyn Evans maintained his FIA World Rally Championship title challenge despite suffering late heartbreak at Rally Chile, where Toyota Gazoo Racing secured a record-equalling sixth consecutive manufacturers' crown.

Although team-mate Oliver Solberg claimed victory and led a Toyota one-two finish, Evans once again demonstrated why he remains championship leader with just two rounds of the season remaining.

The result marked another landmark achievement for Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, whose sixth successive manufacturers' title equals the record set by Lancia between 1987 and 1992 and brings the Japanese manufacturer level with the Italian marque on 10 WRC manufacturers' championships overall.

Rally Chile also continued Toyota's remarkable dominance in 2026, delivering an 11th victory from 12 rallies and an eighth one-two finish for the GR Yaris Rally1.

For Evans and co-driver Scott Martin, the event started brightly. The wet and muddy conditions on Friday's opening stages helped neutralise the disadvantage of running first on the road, allowing the championship leaders to establish themselves among the front-runners.

However, Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson were sensational from the outset. The Swedish driver built an early lead over Evans on Friday morning and gradually increased his advantage as conditions dried. Solberg eventually secured his second victory of the season by 16.6 seconds and capped a superb weekend by setting the fastest time on the rally-ending Power Stage.

Evans remained firmly in contention throughout the event. He successfully held off the challenge of eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier to retain second place heading into Sunday's stages and looked set for a strong points haul.

The Welshman began the final day in impressive fashion, winning the opening stage and leading the Super Sunday standings. But disaster struck on the penultimate stage when an unexpected puncture forced him to stop and change a tyre, costing around two minutes and dropping him down the order.

Despite the setback, Evans responded positively. He set the second-fastest time in the Power Stage, just half a second behind Solberg, to salvage valuable championship points and ensure he left South America still leading the title race.

Toyota's success was enough to secure the manufacturers' championship with two rallies still remaining, while Evans preserved a 17-point advantage over team-mate Sami Pajari. Solberg's victory moves him to within 21 points of the championship lead, setting up a fascinating three-way battle for the drivers' crown.

Reflecting on the weekend, Evans paid tribute to the team after its latest title success.

"I want to say a huge congratulations to everyone in the team and thank them for their efforts this year," he said.

"We had a pretty solid rally and made a good start in the rain on Friday. After that we tried to keep fighting as best we could, even if we dropped away from Oliver, who did a great job.

"I was pleased with how Sunday started, but then we got the puncture without warning in the penultimate stage. It was very costly in terms of points, but we took what we could from the Power Stage and now we just have to keep pushing in what has become a full three-way fight for the championship."

With two rounds remaining, the Dolgellau driver remains firmly in control of his own destiny as he pursues a maiden World Rally Championship title.