Sébastien Ogier won a rain-hit Rally Japan, beating teammate Elfyn Evans by 11.6 seconds to set up a thrilling WRC title showdown. Toyota swept the podium as Sami Pajari claimed his first top-three finish, setting the stage for a tense Saudi Arabian finale.
Sébastien Ogier leads Rally Japan by 6.5 seconds after resisting a fierce charge from Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans in a tense Saturday duel. The pair traded seconds all day, leaving the WRC title battle delicately poised ahead of the final six stages on Sunday.
Sébastien Ogier leads a Toyota 1-2-3 after Friday at Rally Japan, with Takamoto Katsuta second and Elfyn Evans third. The day featured technical asphalt stages and key drama for Rovanperä.
Kalle Rovanperä clinched the Central European Rally victory, securing Toyota’s ninth WRC manufacturers’ title and intensifying the drivers’ championship race. The Finn took control after teammate Sébastien Ogier’s crash in treacherous conditions. Elfyn Evans then snatched a vital second place in the final stage. The season now heads to a thrilling conclusion with just 13 points separating the top drivers in the standings.
Kalle Rovanperä leads the Central European Rally by 36.3 seconds after teammate Sébastien Ogier crashed out on Saturday. The Toyota driver now heads into the final day ahead of Ott Tänak and Elfyn Evans, with the WRC title fight taking a dramatic new turn.
Sébastien Ogier edged teammate Kalle Rovanperä by just 0.6 seconds after a demanding opening day at the WRC 2025 Central European Rally. The Toyota pair dominated across six stages spanning three countries, as the team tightened its hold on both the rally and the manufacturers’ title fight.
The 2025 Central European Rally sees Toyota chasing a fifth consecutive manufacturers’ title while Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans resume a two-point drivers’ battle across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic’s high-speed asphalt stages.
More than Machine Season 2 follows all three Rally1 manufacturers, giving fans unprecedented access to drivers, co-drivers, and team dynamics. Weekly episodes start 23 November on WRC’s official YouTube channel, providing deeper insight into the WRC’s 2025 season.
Czech President Petr Pavel greeted the WRC convoy in Prague ahead of the Central European Rally. Drivers including Fourmaux, Munster, and Pajari toured city landmarks while showcasing advanced rally technology in a public street event.
Alpine A290 Rally Trophy marks the start of a new electric rally era. The debut event in 2025 leads into a six-round French Rally Championship series in 2026, backed by Alpine’s motorsport heritage and sustainable racing vision. Rewards and regional formats add to its appeal.