WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2025
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2025
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25-03-23 Safarisanden fällde Solberg
Oslagbart tempo sista dagen var ett plåster på såret. Oliver Solberg avslutade Safari Rally Kenya med en bitterljuv känsla efter att ha fastnat i sanden på en specialsträcka i fredags.
23-åringen vann tolv av 21 specialsträckor i vad som är säsongens kanske svåraste rally-VM-tävling i WRC2-klassen. På söndagen var han oslagbar och vann alla fem sträckorna och tog in nästan en och en halv minut.
Oliver Solberg med co-driver Elliott Edmondson hade byggt upp en klar ledning i Afrika när deras Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 fastnade i den mjuka sanden mitt i vägen i fredags. Duon körde fast och fick bryta. När de kunde starta om igen fyra sträckor senare, hade de fått 40 tilläggsminuter i bagaget och kampen om topplaceringarna var över.
– Känslan är definitivt bitterljuv. Vi körde kontrollerat och säkert när vi plötsligt fastnade i fesh-fesh. Det var en stor besvikelse och det gick inte att göra något åt det, sa Solberg.
Ekipaget var först på vägen i Rally2-klassen. Rivalerna som startade bakom skickades på en alternativ väg då bilen blockerade den ursprungliga banan.
Efter omstarten på 11:e etappen hämtade Solberg in mer än tre och en halv minut på ledningen. Men till liten nytta. I slutändan slutade Solberg och Edmondson femma i WRC2.
– Det positiva vi kan ta härifrån är tempot vi visade. Vi kunde inte ha gjort något mer än vi gjorde.
Solberg körde sin Toyota GR Yaris på grus och sand för första gången. Britten Gus Greensmith och co-driver Jonas Andersson vann tävlingen
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Nästa VM-tävling hålls på Kanarieöarna i slutet av nästa månad.
22-03-23 Safari Rally success propels Elfyn Evans to record WRC lead
Welshman wins Kenyan classic as Tänak and Neuville complete the podium.
Elfyn Evans tamed the wilds of Safari Rally Kenya to claim a landmark victory on Sunday and tighten his grip on the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) title race.
The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 driver, co-driven by Scott Martin, beat Hyundai rival Ott Tänak by 1min 9.9sec to secure his second win of the season. In doing so, he opened up the largest championship lead ever recorded after three rounds of a WRC campaign.
Evans arrived in Africa riding a wave of momentum following victory in Sweden and a runner-up finish at Rallye Monte-Carlo. Now, with a commanding 36-point advantage at the top of the drivers’ standings, the Welshman has carved out clear daylight between himself and his title rivals after the third of 14 rounds.
His latest success was built across a punishing four-day route that began in Nairobi on Thursday and ventured deep into Kenya’s unforgiving Great Rift Valley. And as ever, the Safari’s raw spectacle drew huge crowds - with police estimating over 250,000 fans lined the stages this year, up from 188,000 in 2024.
Evans moved into the lead late on Friday when early pacesetter Tänak was delayed by a broken driveshaft on his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 - and from there, he never looked back.
It was far from a trouble-free run, however. He overcame tyre deflations and spins earlier in the rally, then carefully managed an electrical issue throughout Sunday’s final leg. Tänak chipped away at the deficit across the closing stages, but Evans held firm to join a select group of British drivers to have triumphed on the Safari - following in the wheel tracks of legends Colin McRae and Richard Burns.
“I want to say thank you to everyone in Kenya for a very warm welcome,” smiled Evans. “An amazing rally, I have to say. Huge well done to the team - they did an amazing job, and I’m proud to be a very small part of Toyota’s history on this special rally.”
Tänak was joined on the podium by team-mate and reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, who finished 2min 22.1sec behind after a drama-filled weekend. The Belgian’s troubles began on Friday with a one-minute time penalty after a delayed gearbox change, followed by further penalties for a jump start and a late arrival as he worked to repair damage to his car’s cooling package on Saturday.
Despite the setbacks, Hyundai’s double podium marked its best-ever result on the Safari. In contrast - despite Evans’ victory - this was the first edition of the rally in which Toyota GAZOO Racing failed to place more than one car on the podium.
A Toyota 1-2 had looked likely until two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä plummeted from second to fifth on Saturday afternoon with rear suspension damage. His misfortune continued into Sunday, when he retired due to an electrical issue - leaving him trailing team-mate Evans by 57 points in the championship fight.
Takamoto Katsuta was on course for a fourth-place finish after battling through multiple punctures and a bout of heat exhaustion, but damage sustained during a roll on the Wolf Power Stage prevented him from reaching the finish and promoted fellow Toyota driver Sami Pajari. Meanwhile, Grégoire Munster overcame a gearbox problem to finish fifth in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.
Gus Greensmith won WRC2, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Jan Solans after the Spaniard rolled on SS18. Gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis placed eighth overall in another Puma, with Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zaldivar completing the WRC2 podium in ninth as Josh McErlean rounded out the top 10.
An all-new challenge awaits next, as the WRC heads to Rally Islas Canarias. The asphalt fixture – based on Gran Canaria – takes place from 24 – 27 April.
Rally Classification:
1. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris 4h 20m 3.8s
2. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +1m 9.9s
3. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +3m 32.0s
4. S Pajari / M Salminen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +7m 18.7s
5. G Munster / L Louka LUX Ford Puma +11m 35.3s
6. G Greensmith / J Andersson SWE Škoda Fabia +14m 11.6s
Drivers' Championship Standings (After Round 3 of 14):
1. E Evans 88pts
2. T Neuville 52pts
3. O Tänak 49pts
Manufacturers' Championship Standings (After Round 3 of 14):
1. Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT 148pts
2. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 122pts
3. M-Sport Ford WRT 47pts
25-03-22 Evans on song as rivals go off-key in Africa
Welshman takes commanding 1min 57.4sec advantage into final day of African classic.
Elfyn Evans is on course to extend his FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) lead after surviving a chaotic Saturday at Safari Rally Kenya, ending the event’s penultimate leg with a commanding 1min 57.4sec advantage.
Fortune favoured the Welshman once again as Africa’s legendary endurance test served up another brutal helping of carnage. From bone-dry dust bowls to rain-soaked mudbaths, the day showcased the full spectrum of Safari extremes – and Evans was one of the few who stayed in tune.
He started Saturday with a slender 7.7sec buffer but immediately laid down a marker on the Sleeping Warrior opener. Even with rear tyre damage near the end of the 26.97-kilometre test, he still extended his lead by 8.2sec over Toyota GAZOO Racing team-mate Kalle Rovanperä.
Rovanperä’s response unravelled swiftly. A front-right tyre deflation five kilometres from the end of Elmenteita cost him 21.1sec, and worse followed at Soysambu, where a front-left puncture dropped him another 55.5sec. By midday service, his deficit to Evans had ballooned to 1min 32.5sec.
Then came the rain.
Conditions deteriorated on the repeated afternoon loop, and although Rovanperä clawed back 11.7sec from Evans on a sodden second pass of Sleeping Warrior, he arrived at the finish with a damaged rear suspension arm. A makeshift roadside fix involving a ratchet strap kept him going, but with no choice but to back off through the final two stages, he dropped almost five minutes and slipped to fifth overall behind Ott Tänak, Thierry Neuville and Takamoto Katsuta.
Evans, who arrived in Kenya holding a 28-point championship lead, is now within touching distance of his first Safari Rally victory - and a significantly bolstered title advantage, should he make it through Sunday unscathed. That’s no foregone conclusion. His Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 sustained front-right damage after a moment in the final stage - a timely reminder of how the event can bite back.
“It's definitely been a proper Safari so far,” said the Welshman. “Two minutes; normally you would say that guarantees you a win - but not here. On a rally like Kenya, you have to weigh up the risk factor. We still need to drive well tomorrow, that goes without saying, and see what [points] we can pick up.”
The drama didn’t stop with Rovanperä. In classic Safari fashion, nearly every Rally1 frontrunner faced some form of adversity.
Second-placed Tänak lost time with a deflated tyre early on, then grappled with visibility issues when the windscreen of his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 fogged up on SS12. Even so, he carries a 2min 36.0sec cushion over team-mate Neuville into Sunday’s five-stage finale.
Neuville’s day was anything but straightforward. Two punctures, a misted windscreen, and a misfiring engine late in the day all combined to slow his charge. But he still gained a position on the final test when Katsuta was forced to stop and change a wheel - his third deflation of the day. The Japanese driver has also been battling illness, making his pair of stage wins even more impressive.
Sami Pajari brought his Toyota home in a lonely sixth overall, 54.4sec behind Rovanperä but more than four minutes ahead of Grégoire Munster’s Ford Puma Rally1. Munster began the day in 11th and even bagged a stage win on SS15.
Gus Greensmith stole the WRC2 lead from Jan Solans on the day’s final stage, snatching an overall eighth place in the process. Just 5.8sec separate the pair going into Sunday, where five stages totalling almost 66km lie in wait.
Standings after Saturday (SS16 /21):
1. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris 3h 38m 39.2s
2. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +1m 57.4s
3. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +4m 33.4s
4. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +5m 6.6s
5. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +6m 6.0s
6. S Pajari / M Salminen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +7m 0.4s
25-03-21 Elfyn Evans grabs the lead on bruising Friday at Safari Rally Kenya
Welshman pounces as frontrunner Ott Tänak is hampered by a broken driveshaft.
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) leader Elfyn Evans led Safari Rally Kenya after a dramatic and attritional Friday leg, as frontrunner Ott Tänak fell foul of mechanical problems in the searing African heat.
In true Safari fashion, few crews emerged unscathed from the rally’s first full day, which featured eight brutal gravel speed tests across the Great Rift Valley. Over half the Rally1 field suffered issues - a stark reminder of the rally’s unforgiving nature.
Tänak had looked unstoppable early on, storming to four stage wins and opening up a lead of nearly one minute. But disaster struck in the afternoon when a driveshaft failure left his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 with only rear-wheel drive. The Estonian haemorrhaged time across the final two tests, dropping to third overall with an overnight deficit of 55.4sec.
That opened the door for Toyota GAZOO Racing’s Evans, who steadily climbed the order in his GR Yaris Rally1 with a clean and consistent performance - despite not setting a single fastest time.
The Welshman, who arrived in Kenya with a 28-point championship lead, ended the day with a slender buffer over team-mate Kalle Rovanperä - a rear-right tyre deflation near the finish of the final stage being his only notable scare.
Rovanperä was just 7.7sec adrift in second and might have been leading himself but for a spin on a particularly narrow section of the Kedong stage, which saw him lose time trying to get his car pointed in the right direction. Aside from that mishap, the Finn also enjoyed a relatively drama-free day.
"It's been a difficult day and we've erred on the side of caution,” said Evans. “Obviously some guys have had trouble, which is unfortunate, but it's part of the Safari. It's a bit frustrating sometimes because you feel like you can take a bit more risk and go a bit faster, but I keep reminding myself where we are.
“It’s a shame for Ott, obviously, to have a mechanical [failure] like that. You never know in this game if it’s because the car has had an impact or if it’s just a standard failure, but it’s a shame for him because he was going well.”
Tänak wasn’t the only Hyundai driver to hit trouble. Reigning champion Thierry Neuville’s day began with a one-minute penalty after his i20 N was delayed leaving service due to a gearbox change. More issues followed - including a jump start (+10sec), a debeaded tyre, and a further 50sec penalty for lateness to SS8 after another technical glitch. Despite the setbacks, Neuville reached the overnight halt in fourth, 36.0sec behind Tänak.
Adrien Fourmaux, who had rejoined under restart rules following an electrical issue on Thursday, retired again when a front-right steering arm broke on SS7. The Frenchman had been nursing a puncture and drove almost 10 kilometres with the flailing tyre before the suspension finally gave way.
It wasn’t a smooth ride for Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta either. Tyre damage early in the day put him out of contention, and a similar issue in the Geothermal test cost more time. He ended Friday fifth overall, more than four minutes off the lead.
Just behind was team-mate Sami Pajari, also delayed by tyre woes, while seventh-placed Josh McErlean led M-Sport Ford’s charge after an eventful afternoon. The Irishman battled through problems that included a squashed exhaust and a boot floor punctured by a loose spare wheel.
WRC2 leader Kajetan Kajetanowicz sat eighth overall after seizing the top spot from Oliver Solberg, who got stuck in a deep section of fesh-fesh on SS7. The Pole, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for the first time, held a narrow advantage over category rivals Gus Greensmith and Jan Solans.
Saturday’s leg brings another six gruelling tests covering 146.50km.
Standings after Friday (SS10 /21):
1. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris 2h 0m 45.4s
2. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +7.7s
3. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +55.4s
4. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +1m 31.4s
5. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +3m 26.4s
6. S Pajari / M Salminen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +4m 19.1s
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at www.wrc.com.
25-03-20 President Ruto launches Safari Rally Kenya as Tänak takes early lead
Drama already as Safari Rally Kenya gets under way on Thursday.
Kenyan President William Ruto officially launched the 73rd Safari Rally Kenya in Nairobi today (Thursday, 20 March). On the stages, it was Ott Tänak who came out swinging, topping the timesheets after the opening two tests.
Ruto was on-site to flag away the leading crews as they crossed the start ramp in the Kenyan capital, before heading to the nearby Kasarani Stadium for a super special stage. Thousands of fans packed every available vantage point to catch a glimpse of the WRC stars in action, before the rally moved to the all-new Mzabibu test, just 10 kilometres outside of rally base Naivasha.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans set the early pace in Kasarani, but Tänak hit back in SS2 with a commanding run on the longer, more technical stage. The Hyundai i20 N Rally1 driver vaulted from fourth to first, ending the day 2.4sec clear of Takamoto Katsuta, with M-Sport Ford Puma ace Grégoire Munster just two-tenths further back.
“For me, it was all fine,” Tänak said. “I think the first stage tomorrow will show quite a lot. It’s super tricky, very demanding and long at the same time. I think the whole day will be quite a big show.”
Katsuta - already a three-time podium finisher in Kenya - could well have led outright were it not for a wild moment in SS2. The Toyota driver ran wide on a left-hander and lost precious seconds scrambling to regain traction.
His GR Yaris Rally1 team-mates Kalle Rovanperä and Evans completed the top five, but there was trouble for Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, who didn’t make it to SS2 after his engine refused to start following the regroup.
Fourmaux's team-mate and defending champion Thierry Neuville also endured a tough start, struggling with a technical problem on his i20 N Rally1 following a two-wheeled moment that left him eighth behind Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari.
The action resumes on Friday morning with the first of the day’s six stages. The biggest challenge will be the 31.40km Camp Moran test, which opens the morning and afternoon loops.
Standings after Thursday (SS2 /21):
1. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N 9m 52.3s
2. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +2.4s
3. G Munster / L Louka LUX Ford Puma +2.6s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris +3.0s
5. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +4.5
6. J McErlean / E Treacy IRL Ford Puma +8.8s
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at wrc.com.
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-03-19 Solberg redo för Safarisanden
Med ett starkt resultat i säsongens kanske mest utmanande lopp, kommer Oliver Solberg att försöka dominera WRC2-klassen i rally-VM när Safarirallyt går av stapeln denna vecka.
Oliver jagar seger i WRC2-klassen och ledning i mästerskapet på de mycket krävande afrikanska vägarna. Det har blivit två andraplatser i den kenyanska klassikern de senaste två säsongerna.
23-åringen inledde säsongen perfekt med en dominerande seger på hemmaplan i Rally Sweden för drygt en månad sedan. Men den här veckan har allt förändrats: Snö och is i norr är borta, medan sol och sand har anlänt till jordens ekvator.
– Utmaningen är en helt annan när vi går från minus 15 grader till afrikansk sommar. Vi har jobbat lite med upphängningen och inställningen. Bilen känns väldigt fin, säger Oliver Solberg.
Han kommer att köra en Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, som drivs av det finska Printsport-teamet. Kartläsare är britten Elliott Edmondson.
– Vi måste ta ett annat förhållningssätt för den här tävlingen. Du kan inte köra i fullt hela tiden. Det finns alltid en sten som lurar någonstans som lätt kan förstöra det roliga. Men samtidigt har man inte råd att vara för försiktig då konkurrensen är hård.
Oliver Solberg säkrade silver i fjolårets WRC2-klass. Inför Safari Rally är han i gemensam ledning i mästerskapet.
25-03-19 WRC’s toughest test returns as Safari Rally Kenya looms large
The dust flies for the first time in 2025 as Toyota GAZOO Racing celebrates a WRC milestone.
Toyota GAZOO Racing reaches a milestone this week (20 – 23 March), making its 100th FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) start at Safari Rally Kenya – but there’ll be no time for easy celebrations as the African classic hosts round three of the 2025 season.
Regarded as the toughest test in WRC, Safari Rally Kenya is the first gravel event of the year and takes place in the stunning Great Rift Valley, where lions, leopards, giraffes and zebras roam just metres from the action.
There’s no more fitting place for Toyota’s century milestone. Since the Safari returned to the WRC calendar in 2021, the Japanese marque has dominated - and it arrives in Kenya in supreme form, having achieved perfect scores on the opening two rounds. But, even for the reigning champions, this year’s fixture will be anything but straightforward.
It’s a rally of extremes. Long, flat-out straights where speeds exceed 200kph are followed by deep ruts and rocky tracks that force cars to a crawl. Snorkels are a crucial addition for deep water crossings, a necessity across the 384 competitive kilometres which make it the longest route of the season.
Toyota’s Elfyn Evans leads the drivers’ standings by 28 points heading into the rally, though the Welshman is yet to conquer its unique challenge. Team-mate Kalle Rovanperä has taken two victories here, while Takamoto Katsuta has finished on the podium three times. Finnish rookie Sami Pajari also pilots a GR Yaris Rally1, running in the team’s second-string squad.
“The Safari is a unique rally with a special set of conditions to face,” said Evans. “It’s not easy even if it’s dry, but when you add the likelihood of rain and standing water, it can be a huge challenge just to get to the end. This has been an amazing rally for the team over recent years and while it’s not perhaps been my strongest event personally, we want to aim as high as possible and challenge for the win if it’s possible.”
Adding another layer of intrigue, Hankook’s new Dynapro R213 gravel tyre will be making its WRC debut in some of the most punishing conditions on the calendar.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville, currently fourth in the standings, is ready to play the long game, with the Belgian and his Hyundai Motorsport colleagues Ott Tänak and Adrien Fourmaux reverting to older-spec i20 N Rally1 cars for this round in pursuit of reliability.
“We need to have a clever drive,” insisted Neuville. “Taking care of the car and staying away from trouble will be key to that. Obviously, you need a bit of luck, but hopefully it's going to work this year.”
British outfit M-Sport Ford fields three Puma Rally1 cars, with Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean leading the charge alongside gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis.
The action kicks off in Nairobi on Thursday morning before heading into 21 brutal special stages around Lakes Naivasha and Elmenteita.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at www.wrc.com.
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-03-16 WRC Stars Meet the Kings of Africa
WRC trio awed by Kenya’s wildlife and conservation efforts on a unique safari experience.
Three of the FIA World Rally Championship’s leading drivers swapped horsepower for a breathtaking wildlife encounter just days out from the third round of the 2025 season, Safari Rally Kenya.
Toyota GAZOO Racing’s Takamoto Katsuta, Hyundai Motorsport’s Adrien Fourmaux and M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean immersed themselves in the wonders of Africa on 15 and 16 March, taking in some of Kenya’s most iconic conservation projects in Nairobi.
Their adventure began at the world-renowned Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where they mingled with orphaned elephants and rhinos, each driver adopting an animal to support its rehabilitation back into the wild. The trio then embarked on a Nairobi National Park safari, witnessing Africa’s famed wildlife up close, before rounding off the experience with a gourmet African brunch prepared by celebrated local chef Kiran Jethwa.
The visit underscored WRC’s commitment to highlighting the regions it visits and supporting conservation initiatives that protect local ecosystems.
“It was quite emotional as it brought us back to nature which I appreciated” exclaimed Frenchman Fourmaux. “I think the highlight for me was the elephants as it is quite unique. It was a pleasure to see one for the first time in my life and share time with them.”
“It was a great life experience to see the small elephants,” opined Katsuta. “To see all the animals today [Sunday] in Nairobi National Park was also special. I have been four times in Kenya before but I have never had a proper safari experience, and the nice food with Chef [Jethwa] was amazing.
“For sure, I have to come back with my two kids and share with them what I saw.”
WRC rookie McErlean added: “It’s been a pretty unique two days. Obviously going to the orphanage with the elephants – it is not so often you get to get so close to animals, and then getting to adopt one, that is special for anyone.”
Attention now shifts to the rally action, with round three of the WRC season roaring into life on Thursday (20 March) morning in Nairobi’s City Square, where crews will be flagged away in front of Kenyan dignitaries. The rally then heads towards Naivasha, 90km north-east of the capital, for the first two competitive stages on the unforgiving African gravel.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at www.wrc.com.
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-01-29 WRC’s Young Driver Team Prepares for Snowy Sweden Showdown
Claire Schönborn and Lyssia Baudet to battle for coveted FIA Junior WRC prize drive.
Rising stars Claire Schönborn and Lyssia Baudet are ready to face their biggest challenge yet when they line up for Rally Sweden (13 – 16 February), round one of the 2025 FIA Junior WRC.
Based out of Umeå, eastern Sweden, the iconic event will be the snow-and-ice debut for the Beyond Rally Women’s Driver Development Programme drivers as they battle for one seat for the remaining rounds of the 2025 FIA Junior WRC series.
Launched in 2024 by WRC Promoter, the Women’s Driver Development Programme is part of the Beyond Rally initiative and is designed to boost female representation at the highest levels of rallying, providing a crucial stepping stone for emerging female drivers.
Chosen from a pool of 15 talented drivers following an intense three-day assessment at M-Sport Poland’s Krakow headquarters last year, Baudet (Belgium), Schönborn (Germany), and Suvi Jyrkiäinen (Finland) had the opportunity to showcase their skills at the Central European Rally – the penultimate round of the 2024 WRC.
While all three demonstrated immense potential, it was Baudet and Schönborn who stood out, delivering near-identical performances. As a result, both will head to Sweden where the final decision will be made on who will claim the coveted prize.
Both drivers will be behind the wheel of identical M-Sport Poland-supplied Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars, equipped with Hankook tyres and entered under the WRC Young Driver Team banner. A crucial pre-event test at the John Haugland Winter Rally School next week will give them the opportunity to refine their skills in sub-zero conditions before the action kicks off.
Schönborn, a hillclimb racing champion who is gearing up for just her fourth-ever rally, is excited about the snow-and-ice challenge ahead. “This is going to be a huge experience,” she said. “Driving on studded tyres is something I’ve never done before, but I’ve heard that the grip is incredible – I can’t wait to experience it for myself.”
Since her debut at Central European Rally, Schönborn has been hard at work, honing her skills on the simulator and refining her pace note system. “My system was basic at first, but during the rally I learned a lot of new techniques to add more detail to my notes,” she explained.
Baudet, 22, who regularly competes in the Belgian Rally Championship, has been working closely with ex-works WRC driver Alex Bengué to prepare for her snow rally debut. “After CER, we did a rally in a Renault Clio Rally5 in Belgium,” she said. “It was great for improving my pace note system and mechanical skills, and I’ve also started working with our coach for Sweden, Alex Bengué.”
In addition to physical and mental training, Baudet has sought advice from specialists to ensure she’s fully prepared. “I can’t wait for Rally Sweden, but I’m also grateful for the extra time to prepare,” she added. “It’s going to be a big challenge!”
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-01-27 Oliver Solberg med en stark Toyota-debut
Toyota-debuten bjöd på starka sju sträcksegrar och en sjätteplats totalt för Oliver Solberg i Rally Monte-Carlo.
23-åringen hade vunnit sin klass men en skada på framvagnen ledde till flera minuters tidsförlust redan på den första specialsträckan under torsdagen.
– Förutom det olyckliga ögonblicket på torsdagskvällen har allt gått väldigt bra. Vi har lärt oss så mycket om den nya bilen. Jag måste bara skicka ett stort tack till co-driver Elliott Edmondson och teamet, sa Oliver Solberg.
Solberg visade imponerande körning och hämtade in mycket av torsdagens tidstapp i sin debuttävling med Printsport-teamet. Solberg säkrade sju av 18 sträcksegrar i sin nya Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
– Bilen var ganska annorlunda än vad jag kört innan, men vi testade mycket som verkligen hjälpte mig att hitta en bra känsla. Tiderna vi lyckades sätta var väldigt starka, det var fantastiskt att få vinna många av sträckorna. Jag tror att vi hade momentum för att vinna. Det är lite frustrerande att vi fick den här skadan i torsdags kväll, men så är spelet och det är så den här sporten är.
23-åringen var inte registrerad för WRC2-poäng i säsongsinledningen, som vanns av fransmannen Yohan Rossel. Nu riktar Oliver Solberg och Elliott Edmondson blicken mot Rally Sweden 13-16 februari. Där ska de slåss om VM-poäng.
– Nu är det dags för snö och vi åker hem för att tävla i Umeå. Jag ser fram emot att köra den nya bilen på de vägarna. Solberg har vunnit Rally Sweden de senaste två åren.
25-01-26 Sébastien Ogier Strikes 10 at Rallye Monte-Carlo
Frenchman triumphs on the WRC’s season opener for a record-extending 10th time.
Sébastien Ogier etched his name further into the history books by claiming a record-extending 10th victory at Rallye Monte-Carlo, the opening round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship.
Driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Ogier secured victory by a margin of 18.5sec over his Toyota GAZOO Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans after a nail-biting final day through the French Alps.
Sunday’s decisive final leg threatened to turn the tide. Ogier and his Toyota GAZOO Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans opted to carry four studded Hankook tyres and only two super-soft slicks - an approach that proved effective on the icy roads of Avançon - Notre-Dame du Laus but left them vulnerable on the drier penultimate test at Digne-les-Bains / Chaudon-Norante. There, Adrien Fourmaux shone on a full-slick setup, outpacing both Toyotas by a 23.9sec and 17.8sec respectively and momentarily threatening to disrupt the podium order.
Fourmaux, making his Hyundai WRC debut after an off-season switch from M-Sport Ford, had hoped for drier conditions on the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage to maximise his slick tyre advantage. Instead, the icy Col de Turini levelled the playing field, leaving him on the same mixed-tyre setup as Ogier and Evans.
Ogier capitalised with another stage win, while Evans held off Fourmaux’s late charge by just 7.5sec despite a heart-stopping brush with a rock face.
“What a weekend,” reflected Ogier, whose first triumph here came during Rallye Monte-Carlo’s IRC days in 2009.
“I don't know where to start, what a weekend. I think I have had my lucky star with me this weekend - my uncle, who we lost one year ago. I am sure he was bringing me everything and this one is for him. I have no idea if it is my last [Rallye Monte-Carlo] now. It would be a good place to stop.”
The drama extended far beyond the podium battle, as Sunday’s treacherous conditions wreaked havoc further down the field. Toyota’s Sami Pajari and Takamoto Katsuta both slid off the road on SS17, while Grégoire Munster’s M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 met a similar fate on the very next stage.
Behind Evans, Hyundai’s Ott Tänak ceded fourth position to Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä on the final day due to his own tyre misjudgement. The pair finished just 4.7sec apart, with both drivers now eager to bounce back on next month’s Rally Sweden as previous winners of the snow-and-ice fixture.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville salvaged sixth place after a tumultuous event. A combination of broken suspension from an early crash, a deflated tyre and an unexplained electrical issue cost him over five minutes, thwarting his hopes of defending last year’s win.
M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean impressed with a solid seventh-place finish on his Rally1 debut, while Rally2 competitors Yohan Rossel, Nikolay Gryazin and Gus Greensmith rounded out the top 10. Rossel’s standout performance earned him an early lead in the WRC2 championship.
Round two of the WRC takes place on the snow and ice of Sweden. The series' only pure winter fixture is based in Umeå from 13 – 16 February.
Rally Classification:
1. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 3h 19m 6.1s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +18.5
3. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N +26.0s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +54.3s
5. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +59.0s
6. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +5m 44.6s
Drivers' Championship Standings (After Round 1 of 14):
1. S Ogier 33pts
2. E Evans 26pts
3. A Fourmaux 20pts
Manufacturers' Championship Standings (After Round 1 of 14):
1. Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT 60pts
2. Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT 36pts
3. M-Sport Ford WRT 11pts
25-01-25 Ogier Turns the Tables to Lead Rallye Monte-Carlo on Friday
Frenchman rebounds from early setback as defending champion Thierry Neuville falters.
Sébastien Ogier staged an impressive comeback on Friday at Rallye Monte-Carlo, vaulting from third to first overall as Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans fell victim to the treacherous Alpine roads.
Ogier, chasing an unprecedented 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo triumph in this season-opening round of the FIA World Rally Championship, began the day on the back foot after an off-road moment on Thursday’s third stage cost him around 20sec. By Friday evening, however, the Frenchman had turned the tables, leading the rally by 12.6sec thanks to a masterful drive on the ice-kissed stages.
Ogier’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 team-mate Elfyn Evans initially dethroned overnight leader Thierry Neuville on the opening stage, edging ahead after shading the Belgian by 2.8sec at Saint-Maurice - Aubessagne 1. Neuville’s hopes of reclaiming the lead were dashed moments later when he limped out of La Bréole - Selonnet 1 with a damaged rear-left suspension, a costly consequence of running wide on a downhill hairpin.
Evans, a four-time runner-up in the drivers’ championship, saw his lead reduced to just 1.5sec by midday. A spirited response after service helped him extend the margin to 7.9sec, but disaster struck on an icy section in Saint-Léger-les-Mélèzes - La Bâtie-Neuve. A half-spin on a treacherous patch handed the stage win - and the rally lead - back to Ogier. The Frenchman, energised by competing on roads just a stone’s throw from his home village of Forest-Saint-Julien, extended his advantage further with a commanding performance on the day’s finale.
"It's a good end to the day,” Ogier smiled. “I had to fight for that. Earlier today I didn't have a mega feeling, I was really on the back foot and I couldn't find the perfect rhythm, but the last two stages were good for me."
With Neuville and Ott Tänak both facing setbacks - Tänak clipped a telegraph pole on SS6, damaging his i20 N Rally1’s bodywork - it was Adrien Fourmaux who carried the Hyundai torch. On his first WRC outing with the team, Fourmaux showed promise with a stage win and two second-fastest times, securing the final podium spot just 1.6sec behind Evans.
Two-time WRC champion Kalle Rovanperä also found his rhythm after a measured start on Thursday. The Toyota ace won the morning’s opening stage and climbed from sixth to fourth by day’s end. He ended 24.3sec behind Fourmaux but held an 8.8sec cushion over Tänak.
Grégoire Munster delivered one of his strongest performances to date, securing consecutive second-fastest stage times in the morning loop. The M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver ran as high as fourth before a tyre deflation on the penultimate stage dropped him to sixth overall, but worse was to come as an electrical fault on the road section after the final test forced his retirement.
Munster's demise meant that Takamoto Katsuta rounded out Friday in sixth ahead of Toyota’s young star Sami Pajari. Neuville, down in eighth, lost more time on the second pass through La Bréole – Selonnet, suffering a tyre deflation that caused him to slide wide at the same corner he had faltered on earlier in the day.
Saturday is the rally’s longest day and includes six stages totalling more than 120 kilometres against the clock.
Standings after Friday (SS9 /18):
1. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris 1h 27m 0s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +12.6s
3. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N +14.2s
4. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +38.5s
5. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +47.3s
6. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +1m 37.7s
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at wrc.com.
The official Home of World Rallying: wrc.com
25-01-24 Masterful Neuville Lights Up WRC Monte-Carlo Opener
TDefending champion leads after Sébastien Ogier spins on Thursday.
Defending WRC champion Thierry Neuville led under the stars of Rallye Monte-Carlo on Thursday evening, thrilling the thousands of fans who lined the alpine roads north-west of Monaco as early pacesetter Sébastien Ogier suffered a costly spin.
The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season launched in spectacular fashion, starting with a ceremonial send-off at Monaco’s iconic Casino Square. From there, the competing crews – along with tens of thousands of fans - ascended into the French Alps for the opening trio of stages. The night-time action, illuminated by dazzling headlights and fireworks, was beamed to over 150 countries through more than 50 broadcasters and WRC’s flagship streaming platform, Rally.TV.
Chasing a record-extending 10th Monte-Carlo victory, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 ace Ogier stamped his authority by posting consecutive fastest times for the opening two stages. However, the Frenchman’s hopes took a hit in the final test from Avançon to Notre-Dame-du-Laus. A wide slide into a fence post cost him over 20 seconds, dropping him to third.
Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, capitalised on Ogier’s misstep to claim the overnight lead with a slender 2.0sec advantage over Elfyn Evans’ Toyota. Ogier, meanwhile, trailed 12.8sec further back in third.
The Belgian relied on Hankook’s newly developed Ventus Z215 super soft tyres, which performed reliably on a challenging mixture of dry and damp asphalt plus treacherous patches of ice.
“On the first part [of SS3] I was painting the road, and in the last part I was cleaning the road!” Neuville smiled. “Super tricky to keep it on the road. I’m happy with the first day. Overall, our target was to finish today.”
Ogier counted himself lucky to escape without major damage, saying: “[It was] difficult of course. A lot of mud on the road and we hit a pole sideways. It's always lucky to get away with that.”
Hyundai’s Ott Tänak kept things steady to secure fourth, 27.0sec adrift of Neuville’s lead. The Estonian overtook debuting team-mate Adrien Fourmaux on SS3, with the Frenchman ending just 3.0sec behind him.
A further 13.9sec back was two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, who returns to Toyota for a full-time campaign in 2025 after his part-time schedule last season. Rovanperä admitted his lack of recent experience in Monte-Carlo left him on the back foot as he ended the night down in sixth.
M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 driver Grégoire Munster placed seventh, edging Takamoto Katsuta – who was battling a bout of the flu – by 4.5sec. Finnish talent Sami Pajari placed ninth as Nikolay Gryazin closed out the top 10 in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Citroën star Yohan Rossel was the highest-placed WRC2-registered driver. He claimed 11th overall ahead of Irishman Josh McErlean, who made a cautious but sensible start on his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 debut.
The rally continues on Friday with six challenging stages totalling over 100 competitive kilometres.
Standings after Thursday (SS3 /18):
1. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N 32m 58.8s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +2.0s
3. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris +12.8s
4. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Hyundai i20 N +27.0s
5. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N +30.0s
6. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris +43.9s
25-01-23 Iconic Rallye Monte-Carlo opens 2025 FIA World Rally Championship
World champion Neuville leads the charge into the WRC’s ultimate challenge.
The FIA World Rally Championship launches its 2025 season in spectacular fashion this week as Rallye Monte-Carlo (23 - 26 January) tests the world’s best drivers on its legendary and unforgiving stages.
Renowned as one of the most iconic and demanding fixtures on the calendar, Rallye Monte-Carlo’s mix of hairpin bends, high-altitude passes and unpredictable grip levels on surfaces ranging from dry asphalt to treacherous ice makes it one of the sport’s ultimate challenges. For crews and engineers, the weather forecast is just as important as the pace notes, with sudden changes able to rewrite the script in an instant.
At the heart of it all is reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, who begins his title defence in style. After a stellar 2024 season that saw him clinch his maiden crown, Neuville and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe return to Monaco in their Hyundai i20 N Rally1 sporting the coveted number one.
Victory on this very event last year set the tone for their championship-winning campaign, but 2025 introduces an exciting new dynamic in Hankook Tires, debuting as the WRC’s exclusive supplier. Initial feedback from today’s shakedown, topped by Neuville’s team-mate Ott Tänak, confirms the South Korean brand is more than ready for the challenge of the WRC.
Hyundai Motorsport fields a three-car line-up with Neuville and Estonian star Tänak joined by rising talent Adrien Fourmaux. Fourmaux, fresh from a breakthrough 2024 season where he secured five podiums with M-Sport Ford, makes his debut with the team after an eye-catching off-season move.
Reigning manufacturers’ champions Toyota GAZOO Racing have upped the ante with a five-strong GR Yaris Rally1 squad. French legend Sébastien Ogier returns to chase an unprecedented 10th Rallye Monte-Carlo victory, supported by two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä and Welsh ace Elfyn Evans. Additional cars will be piloted by Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari, who captured last year’s WRC2 title and embarks on his first full campaign in rallying’s top tier alongside returning co-driver Marko Salminen.
Meanwhile, M-Sport Ford turns the spotlight on Grégoire Munster, now the British outfit's lead driver in his second full Rally1 season. Irishman Josh McErlean makes his debut in the top class after standout performances in WRC2, partnering Munster in the team’s second Puma Rally1.
Adding more intrigue to 2025 is a streamlined points system that puts a sharper emphasis on rally wins. Points will now be awarded to the top 10 finishers, with bonuses available for Super Sunday and Wolf Power Stage performances increasing the maximum score per rally to 35.
The rally officially starts on Thursday (23 January) afternoon in Monaco’s iconic Casino Square, followed by three gripping night-time stages through the French Alps. Competitors then face three more intense days of action before the rally concludes back in Monaco on Sunday afternoon.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) is the FIA’s premium rally series. It showcases high-performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings, ranging from Sweden’s freezing winter to Kenya’s heat and rocky tracks. Participants battle for drivers’ and manufacturers’ titles at 14 rallies. More information can be found at www.wrc.com.
25-01-23 Solberg kör fullt VM-program i rally
För första gången kommer Oliver Solberg att köra alla tävlingar i rally-VM. Fjolårets silvermedaljör inleder jakten på VM-pokalen i WRC2-klassen med säsongsinledningen i Monte-Carlo på torsdag.
23-åringen inleder säsongen med ett nytt team och en ny bil. Solberg bytte nyligen till världens största biltillverkare i sitt försök att bli världsmästare med det finska Printsport-teamet. Han kommer att köra en Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 i WRC 2-klassen – vilket är sportens näst högsta nivå.
Utvecklingsarbetet på bilen har utförts av Toyota Gazoo Racing.
– Vi testade lite innan jul och sista veckan innan säsongsstart och har redan en bra uppfattning om hur Toyotan går. Den känns riktigt bra, är snabb, skön att köra och helt klart en trecylindrig motor. Den sista var lite annorlunda.
Årets VM-resa startar från Casino Square i Monaco på torsdag. Den traditionella tävlingen startar från Medelhavskusten, upp genom snön och isen i de franska Alperna och avslutas tillbaka i solskenet fyra dagar senare.
– Efter testerna vi har gjort och tiden med alla från Printsport känner jag mig redo för Monte-Carlo och det kommande året. Det var skönt att ta lite semester för att ladda batterierna, men jag tror att alla vet att den här sporten aldrig är långt borta från mig.
För första gången tävlar 23-åringen i hela mästerskapet – alla 14 tävlingarna.
– Det här är en fantastisk upplevelse för mig och något jag alltid har drömt om. Mycket spännande ligger framför oss, säger Oliver Solberg.
Efter att ha missat förra årets WRC2-titel med tre poäng, är målet för Oliver och co-driver Elliott Edmondson att vinna VM-titeln i rally.
– Vi var nära förra året och kommer att slutföra jobbet 2025. Men vi behöver också skaffa oss erfarenhet i de nya tävlingarna på Gran Canaria, Spanien, i Paraguay och Saudiarabien. Målet är att utmana och kämpa för att få en plats i Rally1.
Solberg och Edmondson har valt bort Rally Monte-Carlo att köra för poäng i kampen om VM-titeln. Precis som förra året räknas bara sju av tävlingarna de kör i VM-sammandraget.
– Vi föredrar att slåss om poäng i rallyn där vi har mer erfarenhet, konstaterar Oliver Solberg.
Rally-VM 2025
Rallye Monte-Carlo (23-26 januari)
Rally Sweden (13-16 februari)
Safari Rally Kenya (20-23 mars)
Rally Islas Canarias (24-27 april)
Rally de Portugal (15-18 maj)
Rally Italia Sardegna (5-8 juni)
Acropolis Rally Grekland (26-29 juni)
Rally Estonia (17-20 juli)
Rally Finland (31 juli – 3 augusti)
Rally del Paraguay (28-31 augusti)
Rally Chile (11–14 september)
Central European Rally (16-19 oktober)
Rally Japan (6-9 november)
Rally Saudiarabien (27–30 november)
25-01-20 Stars of the WRC herald in 2025 among the glitz of Monaco
WRC welcomed in the 2025 season on Sunday evening, highlighting off-season changes and an all-new tyre partner.
The stars of the FIA World Rally Championship shone bright on Sunday night as the 2025 season was officially launched in front of the sparkling backdrop of the iconic Casino de Monte-Carlo.
Before beginning proceedings, the sincere sympathies of the WRC community were passed to the family, friends and colleagues of His Excellency Mr. Didier Guillaume, serving Minister of state of Monaco, who sadly passed away on the 17 January.
Led by dignitaries FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Hankook Tire Motorsport Senior Director Manfred Sandbichler, WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel, Automobile Club de Monaco General Commissioner Eric Barrabino and SBM Director General Albert Manzone, there were a number of notable firsts to headline the launch. This included new world champion Thierry Neuville sporting the number one on the window of his Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team i20 N Rally1.
Speaking on the evening, the 36-year-old Belgian said, "Seeing the number one on the car for the full season now, we will never forget 2024. Nevertheless, it is a new season starting, all counters are on zero again which means we need to have the same motivation and spirit to fight hard and try and defend our title.
There was additionally a new look to the driver line-up, with Adrien Fourmaux now sporting the colours of Hyundai, Sami Pajari appearing as a full-time driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team and Josh McErlean making his first appearance in M-Sport Ford overalls, just days out from his Rally1 debut.
Appearing on stage following team-mate Gregoire Munster, Irishman McErlean admitted to being ‘privileged’ to be stood on the ramp. “Obviously, it is a dream come true, it will be a big year of learning, these cars are incredible.”
From leading driver in 2024 at M-Sport Ford, Frenchman Fourmaux will be bookended by world champions Neuville and Estonia’s Ott Tänak at Hyundai. “I am feeling really excited, it is a big challenge for us with a new car, a new team and new tyres – we want to continue in the way we were going last year.”
Joining Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä as a full-time driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing, former FIA Junior WRC champion Pajari has a wealth of experience to call upon in the Toyota garage Asked if he was feeling pressure with his increased role, the Finn opined: “At least not yet, that will come on Thursday evening, just really really looking forward to the season.”
The experience at Toyota will be further bolstered when legendary eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier turns out on selected rounds for the Japanese marque, including on the season-opener as he targets a record 10th Monte victory.
It was also a milestone evening for the event’s co-hosts Hankook Tire, who are about to endeavour on their first-ever journey in the WRC. Speaking on behalf of Hankook, Sandbichler said: “For Hankook Tire, today is a milestone because the legend starts today. This is a really strong competition and we will do everything we can to make the story successful.”
A former WRC competitor himself, FIA President Ben Sulayem said: “To us at the FIA this championship is very dear, it is one of the pillars we have and I can see a good future for the WRC."
WRC Promoter’s Jona Siebel spoke of the importance of the season-opening Monte Carlo to the championship. “It’s a unique brand, full of emotions, heritage and passion – it is a privilege for us to get to start here,” he expressed.
Rallye Monte-Carlo officially starts on Thursday in the same location as Sunday night’s festivities, when all competitors cross the ceremonial start before heading high into the French Alps for three fan-laden stages in the dark, before eventually making their way back to Monte-Carlo on Sunday afternoon where the winner will be crowned.
It marks the beginning of 11 months of action which will see competitors cross four continents to tackle snow, ice, asphalt, dirt and gravel in their mission to be crowned world champions. The full 2025 calendar can be accessed here.
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