At the WRC 2025 Central European Rally, Sébastien Ogier ended Friday with a narrow 0.6-second lead over teammate Kalle Rovanperä. The Toyota duo dominated a challenging day that covered nearly 100km of mixed-surface stages across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
Ogier Sets the Early Pace
The eight-time world champion was quick from the start, using his experience to master the varying Tarmac conditions. Despite the difficulty of opening the road and dealing with dust, Ogier’s consistency kept him in control throughout the day.
“It’s been more challenging than normal opening the road on Tarmac,” Ogier admitted. “Only SS5 was good for us; others were dusty and tricky. It’s all about small margins.”
Rovanperä Finds His Rhythm
Kalle Rovanperä hit back in the afternoon, winning stages at Col de Jan and Böhmerwald. The Finn looked more comfortable on the cleaner, faster asphalt sections than on the dirtier Czech roads. “When it’s clean and proper Tarmac driving I enjoy it so much,” he said. “The gap is good, but it’s close.”
Evans Completes Toyota’s Triple
Elfyn Evans secured third place, completing a Toyota 1-2-3. The Welshman topped the final stage under darkness, trimming his deficit to 29.5 seconds. His result was especially meaningful as co-driver Scott Martin celebrated his 200th WRC start. Despite an early five-second penalty for hitting a haybale chicane, Evans fought back strongly.
Hyundai Keeps the Pressure On
Ott Tänak held fourth in his Hyundai i20 N, just 3.3 seconds behind Evans, while Takamoto Katsuta’s solid performance placed him fifth. Adrien Fourmaux followed in sixth after finding better balance in his car during the afternoon. Hyundai’s day, however, was marred by issues for Thierry Neuville, who battled understeer, a flapping bonnet, and a puncture after a heavy landing.
Midfield Challenges and Retirements
Grégoire Munster’s day ended early after suspension damage on the same jump that caused Neuville’s puncture. His M-Sport teammate Josh McErlean survived a steering issue to finish ninth overall. Newly crowned WRC2 champion Oliver Solberg rounded out the top ten, though not eligible for points, leaving Alejandro Cachón leading the WRC2 category.
Performance Insights
Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally1 once again showed remarkable balance on mixed surfaces, combining pace and durability. Ogier’s stage-winning consistency and Rovanperä’s speed in clean sections underline Toyota’s strong setup for variable conditions. Hyundai’s i20 N, while fast, suffered from handling inconsistencies that cost valuable seconds.
Friday Standings (SS8/18)
| Position | Driver / Co-Driver / Team | Time / Gap |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | S. Ogier / V. Landais – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | 1h 03m 29.8s |
| 2 | K. Rovanperä / J. Halttunen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +0.6s |
| 3 | E. Evans / S. Martin – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +29.5s |
| 4 | O. Tänak / M. Järveoja – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +32.8s |
| 5 | T. Katsuta / A. Johnston – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 | +35.7s |
| 6 | A. Fourmaux / A. Coria – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 | +46.1s |
Summary
Friday’s action set the stage for a thrilling weekend in Central Europe. With Ogier holding the narrowest of leads over Rovanperä and Toyota controlling the top five, the battle for victory, and the manufacturers’ title, looks set to intensify as the rally moves into its longest day on Saturday.
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Source: WRC
