WRC – Rovanperä’s Cool Drive Seals Central European Rally Victory

Kalle Rovanperä secured a crucial Central European Rally victory on Sunday. The win successfully delivered Toyota Gazoo Racing its fifth consecutive FIA World Rally Championship manufacturers’ crown. Furthermore, the result has dramatically reshaped the WRC drivers’ title battle. The Finnish driver demonstrated exceptional poise in difficult conditions. This victory marks his third triumph of the current season. It establishes a thrilling, incredibly close championship fight with only two rounds remaining.

Rovanperä Manages a Treacherous Event

Rovanperä assumed the lead on Saturday when his teammate, Sébastien Ogier, suffered an unexpected setback. Ogier crashed into a tree after understeering on the difficult Keplý stage. From that point, Rovanperä focused on gap management instead of outright pace. He expertly navigated the remainder of the rally with his signature composure. Ultimately, he crossed the finish line with a lead of 43.7 seconds. His strategic drive proved effective on the challenging tarmac roads.

A Landmark Title for Toyota Gazoo Racing

The manufacturers’ crown is a significant achievement for the Japanese marque. This ninth overall WRC title surpasses Citroën’s total of eight championships. Toyota now trails only Lancia in the all-time standings. Rovanperä praised the team’s relentless effort and the pace of the GR Yaris Rally1 car. He noted the team is “super good” and acknowledged their commitment to success. The Finn admitted he is now “hungry for the title” after gaining critical points.

The Battle for Second Intensifies

The fight behind the leader provided most of the drama on Sunday. Elfyn Evans hunted down Ott Tänak for the entire final day. Evans benefitted when Tänak had a moment on SS17 near a bridge. The gap shrunk to a minimal 1.1 seconds heading into the Wolf Power Stage. Evans then pushed hard in the final kilometres to edge ahead. He sealed second place by 5.6 seconds, ensuring a Toyota one-two finish. This late-rally surge proved vital for his title aspirations.

The Championship Standings Are Redrawn

Sébastien Ogier’s Saturday incident proved to be a major turning point for the standings. He arrived at the rally with a two-point lead over Elfyn Evans. His unfortunate crash meant a loss of crucial weekend points. Evans’ second-place finish, therefore, propelled him back to the top spot. He now holds a 13-point buffer over his nearest rivals. Ogier, however, salvaged maximum Super Sunday and Wolf Power Stage points. Consequently, he now sits level with Rovanperä in the overall standings. This tight race sets the stage for one of the closest WRC title finishes in memory.

Other Noteworthy Performances

Takamoto Katsuta finished the rally in a strong fourth position. He ended up 17.5 seconds behind Tänak. Adrien Fourmaux completed the top five despite struggling with understeer in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. Rookie Sami Pajari delivered another impressive drive. He secured sixth place, marking his fifth consecutive points finish. M-Sport Ford managed to get both their Pumas to the finish. Josh McErlean equaled his best career result in seventh place. Newly crowned WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg finished eighth overall.

Looking Ahead to the Grand Finale

The 2025 WRC season is nearing its dramatic conclusion with only two rounds remaining. The series next heads east for FORUM8 Rally Japan. This challenging asphalt event takes place from November 6 to 9. The season will finally conclude with a trip to the Middle East. Rally Saudi Arabia is scheduled for November 26 to 29. The coming events promise to deliver high-stakes racing as the championship contenders fight for every point.

Rally Summary

Kalle Rovanperä’s controlled drive secured the Central European Rally victory and Toyota’s ninth manufacturers’ title. His teammate Elfyn Evans took second place in a dramatic final-stage push, placing him back atop the drivers’ championship standings. Sébastien Ogier and Rovanperä are tied for second, setting up a historically close three-way title fight. The WRC season will conclude across two intense rounds in Japan and Saudi Arabia.

Source: WRC