Rally

Dani Sordo will contest another World Rally Championship event this year after confirmation Hyundai has selected the veteran to pilot its third entry at next month’s Acropolis Rally Greece.Sordo’s immediate WRC future had been unknown, with the Spaniard revealing earlier this season that he had only two outings planned with the Korean marque.Those two appearances in Portugal in May and ...Keep readingView the full article

Toyota has confirmed that Sebastien Ogier will be part of its World Rally Championship line-up for next month’s Acropolis Rally Greece.The eight-time world champion had been tipped to start the rough gravel rally from 5-8 September to assist Toyota’s push to retain its WRC constructors’ title.Toyota has now announced its line-up for the event, fielding three GR Yaris Rally1s, with part-time ...Keep readingView the full article

Ever wondered why a World Rally Championship driver is faster than another on a stage? From next season some of those answers will come to light through the championship’s new Command Centre concept.For rally fans of a certain generation, Virtual Spectator provided the first clear opportunity to understand and compare drivers on a rally stage. The technology created a virtual map of the stage ...Keep readingView the full article

Hyundai’s revised 2025 World Rally Championship car will address some of its current “peaky” handling issues, with the team “making big efforts” to find solutions.The i20 N has proven to be fast and more reliable this year but its optimum operating window is narrow which has frustrated drivers.In low grip and changeable conditions the car has struggled to consistently perform, with the ...Keep readingView the full article

Hyundai’s strategy for its third car is the “main question mark” regarding its 2025 World Rally Championship driver line-up, says team principal Cyril Abiteboul.The Korean marque has fielded three i20 N Rally1s this season with two of those driven by full-time drivers in Thierry Neuville and 2019 world champion Ott Tanak, with its third car split across Esapekka Lappi, Andreas Mikkelsen and ...Keep readingView the full article

Sami Pajari is a potential driver option for Toyota in the World Rally Championship next year following an impressive Rally1 debut in Finland, according to team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.Toyota handed WRC2 title contenders Pajari and co-driver Enni Malkonen an opportunity to showcase their potential piloting a fifth GR Yaris Rally1 car in last weekend’s Rally Finland.The duo turned heads by ...Keep readingView the full article

World Rally Championship leader Thierry Neuville sees Toyota's Sebastien Ogier as his main title rival despite the latter yet to officially commit to the remaining rounds.The WRC title race has a different complexion after a Rally Finland Neuville described as a "roller coaster of emotions" that has left the Belgian with a 27-point lead in the standings.That lead is now over eight-time world ...Keep readingView the full article

Elfyn Evans admitted it is “looking difficult” to claim a maiden World Rally Championship title after leaving Rally Finland without scoring any points.The Toyota driver has dropped to fourth in the standings, 36 points adrift of championship leader Thierry Neuville after crashing out on the penultimate stage.Evans was firmly in the victory hunt after trailing then leader and team-mate Kalle ...Keep readingView the full article

Kalle Rovanpera says losing a likely maiden World Rally Championship victory on home soil on the penultimate stage is “quite an unreal feeling” after a near perfect Rally Finland.The two-time world champion was on course to become the first Finn to win the event since 2015, having won 11 stages that helped the Toyota driver into 45.8s lead over team-mate Sebastien Ogier heading into stage ...Keep readingView the full article

Sebastien Ogier doesn’t yet have the “feeling” to challenge for a ninth World Rally Championship title, while again taking aim at the points system that he feels is devaluing the title race.The eight-time world champion, competing in part-time season, has emerged as Thierry Neuville’s nearest rival in the championship after taking victory at Rally Finland after long-time leader and ...Keep readingView the full article

Sebastien Ogier claimed his third World Rally Championship victory of the season after long-time Rally Finland leader Kalle Rovanpera rolled out, denying him a home win in a brutal rally.Eight-time world champion Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais produced a strong drive throughout a demanding Rally Finland affected by changeable weather to seal a 61st career win by 40.1s from championship leader ...Keep readingView the full article

Rally Finland leader Kalle Rovanpera and Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans have crashed out of the World Rally Championship event on the penultimate stage.World champion Rovanpera appeared to be on course to claim his first WRC win on home soil having taken a 45.8s lead into stage 19 [Sahloinen-Moksi, 14.27km].However, the Finn clipped a rock on the inside of left-hand corner which sent his GR Yaris ...Keep readingView the full article

Kalle Rovanpera further extended his Rally Finland lead on Sunday morning as the Finn bids to claim a first World Rally Championship victory on home soil.The reigning world champion increased his advantage to 45.8s by winning the pair of morning stages over eight-time world champion and fellow part-time Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier.Rovanpera’s pace thrusted him to the top of the Super Sunday ...Keep readingView the full article

Kalle Rovanpera says posting a fast time on the World Rally Championship’s famous Ouninpohja stage to mirror his father Harri Rovanpera was the motivation behind his stunning effort.The two-time world champion dominated Saturday at Rally Finland, winning five of the day’s six stages to open up a 44.2s lead over Toyota team-mate Sebastien Ogier with four Sunday stages remaining.Rovanpera’s ...Keep readingView the full article

Kalle Rovanpera has opened up a commanding lead after dominating Saturday’s Rally Finland stages to close in on a maiden World Rally Championship victory on home soil.Toyota’s two-time world champion delivered a stunning drive in changeable conditions to win five of the day’s six stages, including two victorious passes of the returning Ouninpohja test.The performance increased his overnight ...Keep readingView the full article

Toyota could consider team orders to help Elfyn Evans’ World Rally Championship bid in Rally Finland after the title contender suffered an “unusual” mechanical issue, according to Jari-Matti Latvala.Evans was firmly in the fight for victory, sitting in second behind team-mate Kalle Rovanpera, when the Welshman’s GR Yaris suffered a driveshaft failure on Stage 12 [Paijala, 20.19km].The ...Keep readingView the full article

Kalle Rovanpera extended his Rally Finland lead after dominating Saturday morning’s stages, while World Rally Championship title contender Elfyn Evans witnessed his victory bid evaporate.Two-time world rally champion Rovanpera completed a clean sweep of the loop including the return of the famous Ouninpohja test to open up 21.9s lead.His fellow Toyota part-time driver Sebastien Ogier holds ...Keep readingView the full article

Rising World Rally Championship star Sami Pajari says scoring a first stage win on his top-flight debut at Rally Finland has surpassed his expectations for this weekend.Toyota has handed the WRC2 title contender an opportunity to showcase his skills by piloting a fifth GR Yaris at the team’s home event.Pajari’s rally hopes suffered a dent in Friday’s opening stage [Laukaa] when he suffered a ...Keep readingView the full article

Kalle Rovanpera tamed challenging wet conditions to lead a Toyota 1-2-3 at Rally Finland as the Finn made a strong start to his bid for a maiden World Rally Championship home win.The reigning world champion, running a part-time programme, head title contender and team-mate Elfyn Evans by 8.0s after 10 stages.Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier was third [+8.6s] as championship leader Thierry ...Keep readingView the full article

Ott Tanak’s World Rally Championship title hopes have been dealt a further blow following confirmation that the Hyundai driver is unable to rejoin Rally Finland after Friday morning’s crash.The 2019 world champion lost control of his i20 N in stage three [Saarikas] in slippery conditions which resulted in the vehicle rolling before colliding with a tree.Tanak and co-driver Martin Jarveoja ...Keep readingView the full article