Kalle Rovanpera seals victory in Central European Rally as Toyota claim title
19th October 2025Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera has taken the victory at the World Rally Championship’s Central European Rally, as the Japanese team has secured the manufacturer’s title.
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Rovanpera, in his first event since announcing his departure from the sport at the end of the season, finished his first of three final events in the WRC with a victory.
The Finnish two-time world champion claimed victory after keeping his head down when his teammate, and eight-time world champion, Sebastien Ogier, crashed on Saturday morning.
It marks Rovnapera’s third win of the season, all of which have taken place in Europe, following his victories in both Rally Islas Canarias and Rally Finland.
Rovanpera took victory confidently after the Finnish world champion finished CER 43.7 seconds ahead of his teammate, Elfyn Evans, and 49.3 seconds ahead of Hyundai’s championship challenger, Ott Tanak.
With Tanak out of scoring manufacturer points, it meant the 1-2 finish sealed the fifth consecutive world championship manufacturer’s crown for the Japanese brand. Hyundai’s highest-scoring driver was Adrien Fourmaux, down in fifth overall.
In Super Sunday, it was a dominant performance from Toyota as rejoining driver Ogier took maximum points on Sunday (10) after being the fastest driver on the final day, and the Wolf Power Stage.
Evans came second in both Super Sunday and the Power Stage.
🚨 Big hit for @ThierryNeuville 🚨
Thankfully both he and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe are OK after hitting this bridge on the opening stage of the day.#WRC | #CER2025 🇪🇺 pic.twitter.com/GT3izjmjSV
— FIA World Rally Championship (@OfficialWRC) October 19, 2025
For the championship, Toyota’s championship lead can no longer be beaten by Hyundai, who trail the reigning world champions by 168 points. However, the Drivers’ title is still all to play for.
Evans has moved back into the championship lead with 247 points, 13 points ahead of Ogier, who now drops to second place. The eight-time world champion is tied on points with Rovanpera, who remains third.
Tanak remains in championship contention with 197 points to his name, 50 points behind, whereas Nueville is no longer in championship contention. The Belgian trail Evans by 81 points, having scored no points after crashing out on Sunday, and only 70 points are available for the next two rallies: Japan and Saudi Arabia.
Read more WRC here:
- Thierry Neuville crashes out of WRC CER cancelling stage
- Sebastien Ogier holds off Kalle Rovanpera in Central European Rally
- Sebastien Ogier takes overnight lead of WRC Central European Rally
- Sebastien Ogier tops first run of Central European Rally shakedown
- Central European Rally: the schedule of the WRC weekend
- Hyundai make big WRC signing ahead of upcoming Central European Rally
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
