Latest articles by Nick Garton
How Hyundai's latest self-destruction handed Evans Portugal victory
At one point Hyundai held the top three positions in Portugal, but when trouble struck the Korean marque's two leading chargers, a grateful Elfyn Evans was on hand to see off Hyundai third man Dani Sordo and become the third different winner in four rallies
Portugal WRC: Evans boosts title push with Rally Portugal victory
Toyota’s British star Elfyn Evans has claimed victory on Rally Portugal with an imperious display to win the fourth round of this year’s World Rally Championship.
Portugal WRC: Toyota's Evans takes lead after Tanak retires
Toyota's Elfyn Evans has taken the lead of Rally Portugal on a climactic penultimate day of the World Rally Championship’s first gravel event this season after leader Ott Tanak was forced to retire.
Portugal WRC: Tanak presses home advantage as top three pull clear
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak relentlessly pressed home his advantage on the second morning of Rally Portugal, with the top three runners pulling clear of the field.
Portugal WRC: Tanak holds overnight lead after dramatic Friday
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak holds the overnight lead Portugal as the fourth round of the 2021 World Rally Championship delivered a dramatic return to gravel rallying.
Portugal WRC: Sordo leads Hyundai 1-2-3 after morning loop
Hyundai holds a 1-2-3 after the opening three stages on Rally Portugal, with Dani Sordo leading the charge in the Korean manufacturer's third entry.
Why there's no easy fix for Hyundai's operational Achilles Heel
Hyundai Motorsport boss Andrea Adamo was vocal in his criticism of his team's tyre choices on Rally Croatia and declared that he "had better move my ass and solve it". Doing so will be vital to getting Hyundai's 2021 WRC title hopes back on track, but finding the root of the problem won't be the work of a moment
How Ogier held on after a shock bump in the road to triumph in Croatia
Sebastien Ogier was already in an incredibly tight fight at Rally Croatia before a surprise collision with public road traffic at the start of the final day. But the defending champion held his nerve to take a narrow victory and create further World Rally Championship history
Ogier thought WRC Rally Croatia was over after traffic collision
Rally Croatia winner Sebastien Ogier believed that “his rally was over” after the seven-time World Rally champion was involved in a road traffic accident on the final morning.
WRC Rally Croatia: Ogier recovers to beat Evans to victory by 0.6s
Sebastien Ogier pipped Toyota World Rally Championship team-mate Elfyn Evans and Hyundai's Thierry Neuville to secure victory at Rally Croatia by 0.6 seconds after a nail-biting finale.
WRC Rally Croatia: Ogier takes lead as Hyundais struggle on day two
A morning loop implosion from Hyundai on day two of the World Rally Championship's maiden Croatian event handed the lead to Toyota's defending series champion Sebastien Ogier.
WRC Rally Croatia: Neuville leads from Ogier after Rovanpera crashes
Thierry Neuville holds a slender overnight lead from Sebastien Ogier after the first day of Rally Croatia’s debut on the World Rally Championship calendar which covered a marathon eight stages
The returning rally champion promoting mental health on the world stage
From the job centre to the World Rally Championship’s WRC2 division, Chris Ingram has had a rollercoaster year. Having not competed since clinching the 2019 European Rally Championship, he's determined to make up for lost time
Why the casualty of rallying's evolution should still be cherished
The WRC's support categories are in a process of streamlining that will spell the end of a formalised 2WD world championship-level category. While its relevance to the top level has been questioned for some time, that doesn't mean it should be swept quietly under the carpet
Why WRC's hybrid path could leave it at a crossroads
With all three major manufacturers committing to the World Rally Championship’s hybrid era from 2022, the future of the series is assured for now, but it could lead to trickier twists and turns further down the road
How Tanak froze out the competition at the Arctic Rally
Ott Tanak made up for a disastrous Monte Carlo Rally by leading all the way on the snow-kissed stages of the Arctic Rally Finland and in the process hit back at an event Toyota had been expected to dominate
WRC Arctic Rally: Tanak seals victory, Rovanpera takes championship lead
Hyundai's Ott Tanak claimed victory on the Arctic Rally to kickstart his 2021 World Rally Championship campaign, beating Kalle Rovanpera who becomes the youngest-ever leader of the drivers' championship
WRC Arctic Rally: Tanak holds 24s lead over Rovanpera after day 2
Hyundai's Ott Tanak was serene at the front of the field after the second day of the World Rally Championship's Arctic Rally, winning three of the six Saturday stages
WRC Arctic Rally: Tanak extends lead with two morning stage wins
Ott Tanak has extended his lead in the Arctic Rally, round 2 of the World Rally Championship, after claiming two wins out of the three stages on the morning loop
WRC Arctic Rally: Tanak holds overnight lead for Hyundai
Hyundai's Ott Tanak holds the overnight lead after the first day's action on the Arctic Rally, the second round of the 2021 World Rally Championship
Neuville cautious over Hyundai's WRC Arctic Rally prospects
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville has tempered his team's hopes of victory in this weekend's Arctic Rally, ahead of the second round of the 2021 World Rally Championship
How Ogier achieved a fitting Monte Carlo farewell
Against pandemic-shaped odds, the World Rally Championship season opener went ahead in Monte Carlo last weekend as a familiar face again took top spot. But for an emotional Sebastien Ogier, his record-breaking eighth win meant more than most
WRC Monte Carlo: Ogier seals record eighth event win
Toyota's Sebastien Ogier has begun his final World Rally Championship campaign by sealing a record eighth Monte Carlo victory and the 50th WRC win of his career
WRC Monte Carlo: Ogier takes command on third day from Evans
Sebastien Ogier has grabbed the lead from Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans in the Monte Carlo Rally on the third day of this year's World Rally Championship opener
WRC Monte Carlo: Evans takes lead on second day as Ogier shines
Brit Elfyn Evans holds the overnight lead in the Monte Carlo Rally after Toyota seized the initiative on the second day of this year's World Rally Championship opener
1966 Monte Carlo Rally: In defence of rallying's most disputed result
The BMC Mini rally team of the 1960s revelled in the dark arts of finding every advantage available, but not everybody approved. NICK GARTON reflects on the disputed 1966 Monte Carlo Rally and argues that its vigorous scrutineering was merely fighting fire with fire
WRC Monte Carlo: Tanak tops opening day, Suninen crashes out
Hyundai's Ott Tanak has thrown down the first marker at the start of the 2021 World Rally Championship season in Monte Carlo with victory in both of Thursday's stages
What to look out for in the 2021 WRC
As the 2021 World Rally Championship prepares to launch amid tight COVID-19 restrictions in Monte Carlo, here are the eight things unrelated to the pandemic that you should keep an eye on this year
Evans on the talking points of WRC 2021
He came close to the title last year, and now Toyota's Elfyn Evans gives his verdict on what to expect from 2021 as the World Rally Championship prepares to reconvene for the Monte Carlo season opener
Why Britain's continued WRC absence is a wake-up call
OPINION: With Rally GB dropping off the World Rally Championship calendar for the second year in a row, one of Britain's best-attended sporting events faces an uncertain future. It's an unfortunate situation that points to troubling times ahead
The top 10 WRC drivers of 2020
A drastically-shortened 2020 season gave the World Rally Championship protagonists precious little stage mileage to strut their stuff, but as ever the cream rose to the top across the seven events. Autosport ranks the year's best performers
The twists and turns of a turbulent 2020 WRC season
The World Rally Championship was hit hard by the pandemic, but the organisers and teams pulled together to deliver an enthralling campaign that produced five winners and a shock twist in the tail
The early setbacks that shaped the WRC's greatest driver
A series of close calls in his formative years threatened to leave rallying's top echelon tantalisingly out of reach for the man who would go on to claim nine WRC titles. In an exclusive interview, Sebastien Loeb recalls the key steps on his road to dominance
Why the WRC's unorthodox ending was a necessary one
The Monza Rally was an unusual way to end an unusual WRC season, and while far from ideal, without it the series could have faced serious ramifications. To persuade stakeholders to commit to an uncertain future, Monza was an important showcase
How Monza's lottery winner matched a 27-year-old record
Fourth place was all that Elfyn Evans needed to become Britain's first WRC champion since 2001, but his hopes were dashed in the freak weather at Rally Monza which opened the door for his Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier to take the spoils
WRC Rally Monza: Ogier clinches seventh WRC title with victory
Toyota's Sebastien Ogier secured his seventh World Rally Championship title with victory on Rally Monza as Hyundai successfully defended its manufacturers crown
Ogier on cusp of 2020 WRC title with Rally Monza lead as Evans crashes out
Sebastien Ogier closed the final full day of Rally Monza on the cusp of his seventh World Rally Championship title after Elfyn Evans crashed out
Evans crashes out of Rally Monza, Ogier in line for seventh title
World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans has crashed out on the 11th stage of Rally Monza, putting his title hopes in serious jeopardy with main rival Sebastien Ogier currently leading
WRC Rally Monza: Ogier leads but Evans still on course for title
Sebastien Ogier has taken the lead of Rally Monza after Saturday morning's opening stages, as Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans remains on course for the World Rally Championship title
WRC Rally Monza: Sordo holds slender lead over Lappi, Neuville drops out
Dani Sordo holds the overnight lead after the first full day of Rally Monza, with both Sebastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans in title contention in the World Rally Championship decider
WRC Rally Monza: Toyota's Ogier heads Neuville after first stage
Sebastien Ogier opened the World Rally Championship's Rally Monza on top of the leaderboard, with the Toyota driver closing out the first stage half a second ahead of Thierry Neuville
How Evans can make history - from Britain's first WRC champion
In a few short days, Elfyn Evans could become Britain's first World Rally champion in almost two decades and join elite company that includes Richard Burns, Colin McRae and Louise Aitken-Walker. She tells NICK GARTON what he needs to do at Monza
How the contenders stack up for WRC 2020's Monza Endgame
A unique World Rally Championship title decider awaits this weekend at Rally Monza, where the unexpected favourite will attempt to fend off a hungry pack anxious for him to stumble on unfamiliar territory. NICK GARTON outlines the contenders to watch
The Group B pioneer that transformed rallying forever
From Hannu Mikkola and Michele Mouton to Stig Blomqvist and Walter Rohrl, this is the story of a secret four-wheel-drive project from Bavaria that would transform the world of rallying and epitomise the bombast excess of its greatest era
How the WRC's bit-part player reignited Hyundai's challenge
He had to wait eight years for his first WRC win, and six years for his second. But at the same venue as his unexpected 2019 triumph, Hyundai's Dani Sordo took a popular win, as team-mate Thierry Neuville thrust himself back into title contention in second
WRC Rally Italy: Sordo holds off Neuville, Ogier for victory
Hyundai's Dani Sordo claimed his third World Rally Championship victory and his second in a row on Rally Italy, finishing just 5.1 seconds ahead of team-mate Thierry Neuville
WRC Rally Italy: Sordo retains Sardinia lead over Ogier
Dani Sordo has maintained his lead over Sebastien Ogier on a dramatic second day of Rally Italy, with World Rally Championship standings leader Elfyn Evans up to fourth place
WRC Rally Italy: Hyundai's Sordo holds Sardinia lead on opening day
Hyundai 'super-sub' Dani Sordo holds the overnight lead after Day 1 of the World Rally Championship's Rally Italy, as standings leader Elfyn Evans ended the day fifth
The past lessons Toyota must heed in the WRC title race
Tommi Makinen has a potentially awkward dilemma on his hands as the 2020 WRC reaches its business end, with Toyota's team leader playing catch-up to its number two and pressure from Hyundai in the manufacturers' complicating matters further
Evans takes care to deliver Turkish delight
Elfyn Evans favoured pragmatism over speed at Rally Turkey to take charge of the 2020 World Rally championship title tussle when major rivals Sebastien Ogier and Ott Tanak faltered
WRC Rally Turkey: Evans claims cautious victory in attritional final day
Britain's Elfyn Evans won Rally Turkey and soared back to the top of the World Rally Championship drivers' standings after a day of high drama in the hillsides around Marmaris
WRC Rally Turkey: Neuville leads as Tanak drops out on day two
Thierry Neuville leads for Hyundai at the end of day two at Rally Turkey, delivering searing stage times as he bids to stay in the World Rally Championship title fight
WRC Rally Turkey: Loeb leads early stages from Neuville
Nine-time champion Sebastien Loeb holds the overnight lead as the FIA World Rally Championship resumes in Turkey for the fifth round of its coronavirus-hit season
Home hero Tanak elates Estonia to reawaken WRC from its slumber
Estonia had never held a World Rally Championship round before. Its hero Ott Tanak came up with the goods for his first Hyundai victory
WRC Rally Estonia: Tanak takes home win and leads Hyundai 1-2
Ott Tanak took a relatively untroubled home victory on Rally Estonia to record his first World Rally Championship win for Hyundai since joining this season - ahead of team-mate Craig Breen
WRC Rally Estonia: Dominant Tanak leads as Neuville retires
Hyundai's Ott Tanak took the fourth round of the 2020 World Rally Championship in Estonia by the scruff of the neck and leads after Saturday's 10 stages
WRC Rally Estonia: M-Sport's Lappi draws first blood in opening stage
M-Sport Ford's Esapekka Lappi drew first blood in the restart of the 2020 World Rally Championship, claiming top spot on the first stage of Rally Estonia
Rally Estonia WRC: Tanak leads home event after shakedown as WRC returns
Ott Tanak has topped the shakedown for Rally Estonia as the World Rally Championship finally returns to action following the COVID-19 hiatus
Obituary: Rally co-driver and journalist Martin Holmes dies aged 80
When the rally world reconvenes after the Covid-19 hiatus it will be without one of its most ardent supporters and knowledgeable chroniclers, Martin Holmes, who died late last week after a long battle with cancer
How new tech is helping the WRC solve one of its oldest issues
The scale of spectator misbehaviour has diminished since the crazy days of Group B, but it's still an issue - so broadcasting technology is being employed to help keep the stages safe