Rally Italia Sardegna: Škoda crew Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo compete as WRC2 Champions*

› Estonians Robert Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) have secured the title already before the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship*
› Their team Toksport WRT has entered a second Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for former WRC2 Champion Emil Lindholm from Finland and Brazilian co-driver Gabriel Morales
› Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew Roberto Daprà/Luca Guglielmetti from Delta Rally Team start their home event as the defending WRC2 winners
› 18 Škoda crews make up the majority of the WRC2 entries for the gravel event on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia.

Mladá Boleslav, 30 September 2026 – Rally Italia Sardegna (1-4 October 2026) marks the final round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew Robert Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo travel to Alghero as the newly crowned WRC2 Champions*. The Estonians are aiming to finish the season on a high.

As Rally Saudi Arabia is no longer part of the 2026 calendar, the WRC season will end with the upcoming Rally Italia Sardegna. This has fundamentally changed the situation in the race for the WRC2 title. Toksport WRT’s Robert Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo hold the overall lead with 117 points. Regardless of the outcome of the Mediterranean gravel event, the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew now cannot be overtaken by any of their competitors. Already before the start of the Italian WRC round, the Estonians can celebrate as new WRC2 Champions*. Together, they have also won the drivers' and co-drivers' titles in the WRC2 Challenger classification*. That’s two more international trophies for Robert Virves, who became FIA Junior WRC Champion in 2022.

Toksport WRT has also entered former WRC2 Champion Emil Lindholm. The 2022 title winner shares the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with Brazilian co-driver Gabriel Morales. Both chase their first WRC2 win on Rally Italia Sardegna. In contrast, Roberto Daprà/Luca Guglielmetti already know the feeling of celebrating from the top of the Italian WRC2 podium. They drove a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew from Delta Rally Team to category win on their home event last year. Other Škoda crews with hopes for top positions are team MZR Paraguay’s Fabrizio “Fau” Zaldívar/Marcelo Der Ohannesian, Jan Solans/Rodrigo Sanjuán from team PH.Ph. and MT Racing’s Giovanni Trentin/Pietro Elia Ometto. In total, 18 Škoda crews are entered into WRC2.

Rally Italia Sardegna will see the decision in the WRC Masters Cup, which is reserved for drivers over the age of 50. Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 driver Miguel Granados from Mexico and Spanish co-driver Marc Martí aim to reduce the gap to leaders Johannes Keferböck/Ilka Minor.

Rally Italia Sardegna is based in the city of Alghero. The 17 stages totalling 307.02 kilometres run mostly on sandy and stony gravel roads. On Thursday (1 October), the event kicks off with a spectacular show stage inside the Ittiri Crossodromo. Friday offers six stages covering 119.66 kilometres. 123.66 competitive kilometres across six stages follow on Saturday. The final leg on Sunday (4 October) consists of another four stages with a total of 61.62 kilometres. The podium beneath Alghero’s ancient bastion is scheduled for 5 p.m. CEST.

Did you know that…
…for its 23rd edition, the rally has moved its headquarters and service park from Olbia on the east coast back to Alghero on the island’s west coast?
…for only the fourth time in its history, the event will run in autumn? In contrast to the usual summer slot, the October date brings the potential for cooler temperatures and variable conditions, adding even greater challenges for the teams. Also, for the first time, Rally Italia Sardegna marks the final event of a WRC season.
…the 24.14-kilometre stage “Lerno – Sa Conchedda – Monti Di Ala” features the iconic “Micky’s jump”, where the rally cars fly for up to 40 metres?

Standings WRC2/Drivers + Co-Drivers (after 12 of 13 events)
1 Robert Virves/Jakko Viilo (EST/EST), Škoda, 117 points
2 Yohan Rossel/Arnaud Dunand (FRA/FRA), Lancia 85 points
3 Roope Korhonen/Anssi Viinikka (FIN/FIN), Toyota, 79 points

* Subject to confirmation of the results by the FIA

2026 FIA World Rally Championship

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