WRC 2025 Title Fight Heats Up at Flat-Out Secto Rally Finland

The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship heads into its most thrilling chapter yet as Secto Rally Finland (31 July – 3 August) sets the stage for round nine of the season. With average speeds topping 120kph and iconic jumps through Finland’s forest stages, the tightest WRC title battle in years now faces its ultimate test.

At the top of the standings, Ott Tänak leads by a razor-thin margin — just one point ahead of Elfyn Evans — following his runner-up finish at Delfi Rally Estonia. The high-speed gravel roads of Jyväskylä, where Tänak has won three times (2018, 2019, 2022), could prove decisive in the race for the crown.

Tänak vs Evans: The Showdown Resumes

Tänak, driving the Hyundai i20 N Rally1, enters the Finnish classic as championship leader and will open the road on Friday. While Finland’s smoother surface reduces the disadvantage of road sweeping, dry conditions could still hamper the Estonian’s pace.

Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans enjoys a more favourable road position in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, running second on the road. With earlier wins this season in Sweden and Kenya, the Welshman is poised to strike on a rally he’s conquered twice before.

Ogier Returns, Rovanperä Eyes Redemption

Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier returns to the action after skipping Estonia. With dominant wins in Monte Carlo, Portugal, and Sardinia, the Frenchman — currently 21 points adrift — remains a potent wildcard in the championship fight.

For Finland’s own Kalle Rovanperä, this is more than a home rally — it’s a chance to rewrite the script. The reigning two-time champion is yet to win on Finnish soil and is eager to make amends after a heartbreaking crash while leading in 2024.

“We’ve had good chances to win here the last two years and didn’t quite manage it,” said Rovanperä. “We’re working hard with the team to improve our gravel pace and go for the win.”

Toyota’s Home Advantage vs Hyundai’s Momentum

Toyota Gazoo Racing leads the manufacturers’ standings and enjoys a symbolic home-field edge, with team headquarters just across the lake from the Jyväskylä service park. The Japanese squad enters a five-car fleet, including Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari, alongside its trio of title challengers.

Hyundai Motorsport fields a formidable three-car lineup, counting on Tänak’s form as well as defending champion Thierry Neuville and rising star Adrien Fourmaux.

M-Sport Ford brings youthful firepower with Grégoire Munster, Josh McErlean, and Mārtiņš Sesks piloting the Puma Rally1 entries.

What’s at Stake

Secto Rally Finland spans 307 kilometres across 20 gravel stages, featuring some of the most iconic roads in rallying. The finale includes double runs of Ouninpohja, a legendary stage known for its jumps and breakneck speeds — making Sunday’s showdown a potential title decider.

With the championship closer than it’s been in years and multiple drivers still in contention, Rally Finland could mark a turning point in the 2025 WRC season — or throw it wide open once again.