WRC Title Showdown Heads to Saudi Arabia for Dramatic 2025 Season Finale

The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship is set for its most dramatic conclusion in years as Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä arrive in Saudi Arabia for a historic Middle Eastern finale that will decide both the drivers’ and co-drivers’ world titles.

While Toyota Gazoo Racing has already secured the manufacturers’ championship following the Central European Rally, the battle among its star drivers remains wide open. Rally Saudi Arabia, serving as the 14th and final round of the season, introduces over 319km of brand-new gravel stages north of Jeddah — a complete unknown for the entire Rally1 field.

Evans Leads the Standings in Hunt for Maiden WRC Title

Championship leader Elfyn Evans arrives with a slim three-point advantage over multiple world champion Sébastien Ogier, thanks to a season of relentless consistency. The Welshman has scored at every single round this year, with four consecutive second-place finishes keeping him in control during the autumn run-in.

“We go to Saudi Arabia knowing everything is still to play for,” Evans said. “It’s basically a clean sheet for all of us. We just have to focus on doing the best rally we can and see what comes.”

Ogier Targets Record-Equalling Ninth World Title

Despite contesting only part of the season, Sébastien Ogier remains firmly in the hunt for a ninth WRC crown. Six wins from ten starts — including a crucial victory at Rally Japan — have slashed Evans’ lead and kept the Frenchman in striking distance.

“Nobody has much experience of these new stages, so there could be a lot of surprises,” Ogier commented. “Hopefully conditions are fair for all of us — and may the best man win.”

Rovanperä’s Final Full-Time Start Offers a Slim but Real Chance

Two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, 21 points adrift, enters the finale with a narrower title shot but undeniable speed. Wins in the Canary Islands, Finland and Central Europe have proven his pace, though early-season retirements put him on the back foot.

“The championship is not really in our hands anymore, but we still have a chance,” said Rovanperä, who makes his final full-time WRC appearance this week. “With tricky stages and lots of rocks, anything can happen.”

Rally Saudi Arabia: New Terrain, High Stakes

The brand-new Saudi Arabian stages promise fast, open gravel sections mixed with volcanic rock and softer sand — a mix that could shake up the order and add unpredictability to the championship decider.

The fully subscribed Rally1 field features:

• Toyota Gazoo Racing: Evans, Ogier, Rovanperä, Takamoto Katsuta, Sami Pajari
• Hyundai Motorsport: Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak, Adrien Fourmaux
• M-Sport Ford: Josh McErlean, Grégoire Munster, Mārtiņš Sesks, Nasser Al-Attiyah

Schedule and Format

The event kicks off with a Jeddah super special stage on Wednesday evening, followed by three days of competitive running in the desert. The champion will be crowned on Saturday afternoon after 17 timed tests totalling 319.64km.

With three drivers still firmly in title contention and completely new terrain awaiting them, the 2025 WRC finale in Saudi Arabia promises to be one of the most thrilling and unpredictable deciders in modern rallying history.