Rally Paraguay 2025 delivered on its promise as an electrifying and thoroughly demanding addition to the World Rally Championship—a true showcase for top-level sport, technical mastery, and unpredictable drama
The WRC Arrives in Encarnación
The 2025 Rally Paraguay marked the WRC’s inaugural full championship visit to the country, with Encarnación hosting 19 stages spread across 335 kilometres of challenging gravel roads. The terrain’s signature red clay, lined by humid subtropical vegetation, proved as duplicitous as ever: fast when dry, near impassable when the rain arrived late on Sunday, fundamentally altering the competitive outlook in key moments.
Early Action and Friday Setbacks
The rally burst into life on Friday as Sébastien Ogier, widely regarded as one of the most adaptable and intelligent competitors in the field, suffered an early puncture, instantly losing 36 seconds and dropping to eighth overall. Meanwhile, Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans set the initial pace for Toyota, but the story of the day was the clay’s unforgiving nature—numerous drivers battling for grip on bumpy, rock-strewn lines. Ogier’s fightback began in earnest, demonstrating why multi-surface mastery sets apart true WRC greats.
Saturday’s Shifts: Pacey Attacks and Tyre Snares
By Saturday, the fight was on. Ogier put on a masterclass, winning nine of the rally’s 19 stages and clawing his way into contention with relentless precision on pace notes and judicious risk-taking through the most technical sections. The big drama came from within the Toyota camp: Kalle Rovanperä, threatening for victory, was cruelly denied by a costly tyre deflation. This shuffled the order at the top and opened the door for Ogier to move into the lead by Saturday afternoon. Adrien Fourmaux for Hyundai, meanwhile, found himself propelled into podium contention—proof that consistency amid chaos can yield unexpected rewards
Sunday’s Weather Twist: Rain Turns Tides
The event’s final day transformed the contest anew. Rain hammered the region on Sunday morning, rendering the red clay surface fiendishly slick and catching even the most seasoned crews off guard. Ogier, leading by almost 40 seconds into the Power Stage, had to summon all his experience when the heavens opened even further during his final run, neutralising his pace advantage and turning the closing kilometres into a tyre lottery.
Ogier emerged unscathed, securing victory for Toyota by 26.2 seconds—his 18th with the team and a personal career highlight, especially given his past South American misfortunes. This win also saw Toyota tie Citroën’s all-time WRC victories record (102), reinforcing their dominance in the manufacturers’ standings.
Sporting Drama and Podium Shake-Ups
Rarely does a new WRC round deliver such a competitive finish across the top five. Adrien Fourmaux, on course for his maiden podium, suffered a sudden dip in pace on the decider, dropping to fourth as Thierry Neuville set a stunning benchmark on the Power Stage to snatch third. Ott Tänak and Kalle Rovanperä, both Hyundai and Toyota runners respectively, rounded out the top five, timing their attacks amid shifting fortunes and capricious weather.
The final order:
1st: Sébastien Ogier (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 3:00:06.6
2nd: Elfyn Evans (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +26.2s
3rd: Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +27.2s
4th: Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +28.5s
5th: Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +30.6s
6th: Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2:05.2
WRC2 and Local Heroes
Paraguayan hopes in the WRC2 class took a blow with Diego Domínguez’s early retirement due to mechanical issues. The category delivered its own drama: Nikolai Gryazin lost the class lead after damaging a wheel on stage 14, and Oliver Solberg surged onto the podium after aggressive attacks on every stage. Ultimately, the fight for WRC2 win was shaped by last-minute tyre dramas and bold driving under pressure.
Sporting Legacy and Atmosphere
Paraguay’s debut at the sharp end of the WRC calendar couldn’t have been scripted more dramatically. Electrifying local support, immense natural challenges, and a finale defined by both speed and survival ensured that this rally instantly entered the canon of classic WRC events. Toyota’s 1-2 ensured they left Encarnación on the precipice of championship glory, yet with just nine points splitting Evans and Ogier in the drivers’ standings, the story of 2025 is anything but settled.
Rally Paraguay is now more than a local endurance test: it has arrived as a modern sporting spectacle, delivering on every front for purists and thrilling the international stage.
