Rovanpera wins Central European Rally to clinch Toyota's fifth straight WRC crown

Kalle Rovanpera took a decisive win in the Central European Rally on Sunday, guiding Toyota Gazoo Racing to a fifth consecutive WRC crown.

The Finn assumed control on Saturday when teammate Sebastien Ogier crashed out in treacherous conditions. From there, he managed the gap with trademark composure to take victory by 43.7s. It marked Rovanperä’s third win of the year following triumphs in the Canary Islands and Finland, and Toyota’s ninth manufacturers’ title, surpassing Citroën’s tally of eight and leaving the Japanese marque just one behind record-holder Lancia.

“It's been great to be back on tarmac again, and I think the pace Seb and I had was pretty fast compared to the others,” Rovanpera said. “Huge congratulations to everyone in the workshop – clearly, we are super good as a team. I'm hungry for the title now; we increased our chances, it still will not be easy, but we'll try to continue.”

The winners celebrate a ninth straight manufacturers' crown. Toyota Gazoo Racing photo

Elfyn Evans added to Toyota's joy by snatching second place from Ott Tanak on the Wolf Power Stage after a day-long chase. The Welshman benefited when Tanak had a moment on SS17 (Beyond Borders 2) at the same bridge which had earlier claimed Thierry Neuville, trimming the gap to 1.1s heading into the finale. Evans then edged ahead by 5.6s in the closing minutes to seal a Toyota one-two.

Ogier’s incident, which occurred when he understeered into a tree on Saturday’s Keplý stage, proved a turning point both for the rally and the drivers’ championship. The Frenchman had arrived in Passau two points ahead of Evans, but his crash now leaves the Welshman back on top of the standings with a 13-point buffer.

A maximum haul of Super Sunday and Wolf Power Stage points means Ogier now sits level with Rovanpera approaching the final two rounds – part of one of the closest title fights in the WRC’s modern era.

Ogier shook off his earlier disappointment with a strong finish that adds to a spectacular duel to the end for the WRC drivers' crown. McKlein Photography/Getty Images

Takamoto Katsuta capped off a promising weekend by finishing 17.5s behind Tänak in fourth, while Adrien Fourmaux completed the top five in his i20 N Rally1 despite continued struggles with understeer. Rookie Sami Pajari impressed again in sixth – his fifth consecutive points finish.

Behind them, Josh McErlean and Grégoire Munster ensured both M-Sport Ford Pumas reached the finish, McErlean equaling his best career result in seventh overall.

Jan Cerny claimed WRC2 class honors in his Skoda Fabia RS. Severin Aichbauer/SEPA.Media/Getty Images

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, Newly crowned champion Oliver Solberg brought his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 eight overall, but with the Swede not eligible to score points this weekend, it was Czech stars Jan Černý and Filip Mareš rounding out the top 10, with the former claiming the class win.

The WRC now heads east for FORUM8 Rally Japan (Nov. 6-9 November) before making its Middle Eastern return at Rally Saudi Arabia (Nov. 26-29) for the conclusion of the 2025 season.

WRC Central European Rally, final positions after Sunday/Leg Three, SS18
1 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2h36m20.1s
2 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +43.7s
3 Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +49.3s
4 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m06.8s
5 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +2m04.6s
6 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2m13.9s
7 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) 5m48.8s
8 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2 ) +8m56.2s
9 Jan Cerny/Ondrej Krajca (Skonda Fabia RS – WRC2 winner) +10m51.1s
10 Felipe Mares/Radovan Bucha (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2) +11m21.2s

WRC Drivers’ Championship after 12 of 14 rounds
1 Evans 247 points
2 Ogier 234
3 Rovanpera 234
4 Tanak 197
5 Thierry Neuville 166
6 Katsuta 110

WRC Manufacturers’ Championship after 12 of 14 rounds
1 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT 632 points (clinched title)
2 Hyundai Word Rally Team 464   
3 M-Sport Ford 176
4 Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 127

• If you missed the spectacular Wolf Power Stage action from the Central European Rally live on the RACER+ App, catch the replay tonight on RACER Network from 8:30-10:00pm ET.