Rovanperä Dominates, Evans Secures Toyota 1–2
Rovanperä crossed the finish line 43.7 seconds ahead of teammate Elfyn Evans, sealing a Toyota one-two and delivering the decisive points for the manufacturer’s title. Behind them, Hyundai’s Ott Tänak was on course for second place but lost time in the final Power Stage, ultimately settling for the final spot on the podium.
The weekend’s pivotal moment came on Saturday morning, when rally leader Sébastien Ogier suffered a puncture that went undetected by the tyre pressure sensors, causing him to clip a tree and retire from the rally. It was Ogier’s first retirement of the season and one that cost him the championship lead.
Returning under Super Rally rules, Ogier maximised his Sunday performance, earning a full 10 points from Super Sunday to limit the damage.
Evans Recovers from Early Penalty
Elfyn Evans endured a turbulent start to his weekend, receiving a five-second penalty for clipping a bale in Thursday’s chicane, which dropped him to eighth. However, the Welshman mounted an impressive recovery, ending Friday in third place after a strong push through the afternoon stages.
Though he briefly lost second place to Tänak on Saturday, the Hyundai driver’s grip issues later in the day allowed Evans to reclaim the position and move into the championship lead heading into the season finale.
Strong Performances and Late Drama
Takamoto Katsuta impressed with two stage wins on his way to fourth overall, capping a strong weekend for Toyota. Adrien Fourmaux finished fifth for Hyundai, while defending champion Thierry Neuville’s rally ended abruptly on Sunday morning after hitting a bridge.
The stage was subsequently cancelled for safety reasons, and both Neuville and his co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe were taken to the hospital for precautionary checks. Their rally had already been compromised after a puncture on Stage 5 cost them significant time earlier in the weekend.
Further down the order, Sami Pajari continued his promising debut season with a sixth-place finish, ahead of M-Sport Ford’s Josh McErlean, who equalled his career-best result in seventh. Grégoire Munster rejoined the rally under Super Rally rules after retiring with rear suspension failure.
Toyota’s Dominance Continues
Rovanperä’s triumph not only reaffirmed Toyota’s supremacy in the modern WRC hybrid era but also reignited his personal title hopes heading into the final round. With five consecutive Manufacturers’ Championships, Toyota Gazoo Racing remains the benchmark team in world rallying.
As for Rovanperä, his composed and clinical drive in Central Europe may yet prove pivotal in shaping the 2025 championship outcome and, fittingly, could serve as a defining chapter in his WRC legacy before he turns the page to single-seaters.
Watch 2025 WRC Central European Rally final day highlights here.
