Kalle Rovanperä Clinches Central European Rally Win as Toyota Seals Fifth Straight WRC Title

Passau, Germany (October 20, 2025): Kalle Rovanperä delivered a calm and calculated performance to win the 2025 Central European Rally, securing Toyota Gazoo Racing’s fifth consecutive FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) manufacturers’ title and setting up one of the tightest driver title fights in recent memory.

The Finn took control on Saturday after team-mate Sébastien Ogier crashed out in slippery conditions on the Keplý stage, and from there, Rovanperä never looked back. Managing his lead with trademark composure, the reigning champion crossed the finish line 43.7 seconds ahead of team-mate Elfyn Evans, marking his third win of the seasonafter victories in the Canary Islands and Finland.

The result not only sealed Toyota’s ninth manufacturers’ crown, surpassing Citroën’s record of eight, but also brought the Japanese marque within one title of Lancia’s all-time record.

“It’s been great to be back on Tarmac again,” said Rovanperä. “The pace Séb and I had was really strong compared to the others. Huge congratulations to everyone at Toyota – we’re super good as a team. I’m hungry for the title now; it won’t be easy, but we’ll keep pushing.”

Behind Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans snatched second place from Ott Tänak on the Wolf Power Stage, capping off a thrilling Toyota one-two. The Welshman took advantage of Tänak’s mistake on SS17 (Beyond Borders 2) — the same tricky bridge section that had earlier caught out Thierry Neuville — to close the gap and then overtake on the final stage, finishing 5.6 seconds ahead.

Ogier’s crash proved pivotal for the drivers’ championship. The Frenchman, who started the weekend two points ahead of Evans, now drops to joint second in the standings — level on 234 points with Rovanperä, while Evans moves back into the lead on 247 points with just two rounds remaining.

Elsewhere, Takamoto Katsuta continued his consistent form to take fourth, 17.5 seconds behind Tänak, while Adrien Fourmaux salvaged fifth despite battling understeer in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. Rising Finnish star Sami Pajari impressed once again, finishing sixth to record his fifth straight points result.

In WRC2, Oliver Solberg — already crowned champion — claimed eighth overall in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Czech drivers Jan Černý and Filip Mareš delighted local fans by rounding out the top 10.

A dramatic finale in Junior WRC saw Mille Johansson edge Taylor Gill by just 1.6 seconds on the last stage to claim the 2025 Junior WRC title, capping a thrilling four-day event across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

The WRC now heads to FORUM8 Rally Japan (November 6–9) before concluding the 2025 season with the inaugural Rally Saudi Arabia (November 26–29).