Estonia – July 21, 2025
Oliver Solberg has etched his name into World Rally Championship history with a stunning victory on debut for TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) at Rally Estonia – marking not only his maiden WRC win, but also delivering the 100th career victory for Toyota in the pinnacle of global rallying.
For the 23-year-old Swede, the result is nothing short of transformative. Having spent the 2025 season leading the WRC2 championship behind the wheel of a GR Yaris Rally2, Solberg was handed a rare opportunity to step up to Rally1 machinery for the high-speed Estonian round. What followed was an inspired performance over three days of gravel warfare, culminating in a commanding 25.2-second triumph over hometown hero Ott Tänak.
A Dream Weekend on Debut
It was only Solberg’s 13th start at the top level of the WRC, and his first since 2022. But after two days of testing in Finland to acclimatise to the GR Yaris Rally1, he and British co-driver Elliott Edmondson wasted no time in getting up to speed. On Friday’s opening forest stage, they fired an early warning shot with their first-ever WRC stage win—an achievement that immediately secured the rally lead.
Three stage victories on Friday were followed by four more on Saturday, extending his advantage to over 21 seconds by day’s end. Even as rain and pressure from Tänak threatened to spoil the final leg, Solberg remained unshaken. Two more stage wins on Sunday pushed his weekend tally to nine, before a clean run through the Power Stage sealed an unforgettable rally win.
“It’s been the most amazing weekend,” an emotional Solberg said at the finish. “I’m feeling so overwhelmingly happy, after so many years of dreaming and working for this moment.”
Generational Milestone
With his victory, Solberg joins a very exclusive club: like his father, 2003 World Rally Champion Petter Solberg, he is now a WRC event winner. He becomes the third-youngest driver in history to claim a round, behind teammates Kalle Rovanperä and TGR-WRT Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
Equally significant is the milestone Solberg helped Toyota achieve: this was the Japanese manufacturer’s 100th WRC win, a journey that began with Walter Boyce’s victory at the 1973 Press-on-Regardless Rally in the USA. He is also the 16th driver to take a WRC win in a Toyota.
TGR-WRT Chairman Akio Toyoda celebrated the poetic symmetry of the moment, recalling a 2021 encounter with Solberg at a podium ceremony in Belgium, where the young driver—then wearing Hyundai overalls—asked him to take a photo of him with rally legend Juha Kankkunen.
“I took today’s victory by Oliver as a ‘thank you’ for three years ago,” Toyoda said with his signature warmth. “If he wins next time while I’m on site, I will rush over to him and hope he’ll take a photo with me—and if Juha is there, I’ll ask him to take the photo!”
A Star Among Giants
While Solberg’s performance captured the headlines, the weekend also delivered key points for the TGR-WRT squad. Defending Rally Estonia winner Kalle Rovanperä couldn’t replicate his previous form but finished fourth overall and won the Power Stage to collect valuable bonus points, finishing second in the Super Sunday classification.
“Overall, it’s clear that I don’t currently have the pace we want on gravel with this year’s package,” said Rovanperä, who remains fourth in the championship standings. “We will keep working on it with the team and try to find something more for Rally Finland.”
Elfyn Evans had to contend with the disadvantage of running first on the road on Friday, losing time while sweeping loose gravel. He mounted a recovery over the weekend to finish sixth overall and now trails Tänak by just one point in the drivers’ standings.
Takamoto Katsuta had shown strong pace before a mechanical issue forced retirement ahead of the final Power Stage, while Sami Pajari—another TGR rising star—fought back from early mechanical trouble to finish seventh in his Rally1 entry.
GR Yaris Rally2: Still Dominant in WRC2
Even in Solberg’s absence from the WRC2 class, Toyota’s GR Yaris Rally2 continued to shine. Estonian driver Georg Linnamäe (RedGrey) delighted home fans with second place in class, while Finland’s Roope Korhonen (Rautio Motorsport) claimed the final podium spot.
The strong performances reaffirm Toyota’s Rally2 programme as a critical part of TGR-WRT’s talent pipeline—a pipeline that this weekend proved its worth in the most emphatic way.
Looking Ahead: The Challenge of Home
The next test for the Toyota team will be Rally Finland (July 31–August 3), the fastest rally on the WRC calendar, renowned for its flat-out gravel roads and high-flying jumps. It’s also a home event for the TGR-WRT operation, headquartered in Jyväskylä.
“We’ll put on the best performance for the people of Jyväskylä who always support us,” Toyoda promised. “I’m counting on everyone in the team.”
Deputy Team Principal Juha Kankkunen, who mentored Solberg throughout the weekend, echoed the sentiment: “It’s been such an unbelievable weekend from Oliver. He handled the pressure so well, and it’s a great feeling to see such a young talent deliver a win like this. Now we focus on Finland.”
Final Classification – Rally Estonia 2025 (Top 10)
- Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – 2h36m35.1s
- Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +25.2s
- Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +48.3s
- Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +55.6s
- Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +1m33.0s
- Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +1m43.4s
- Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +2m55.6s
- Mārtiņš Sesks / Renārs Francis – Ford Puma Rally1 – +3m36.0s
- Josh McErlean / Eoin Treacy – Ford Puma Rally1 – +5m29.8s
- Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka – Ford Puma Rally1 – +5m57.5s
Retired: Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2025 FIA WRC Standings After Round 8 – Drivers
- Ott Tänak – 162 pts
- Elfyn Evans – 161 pts
- Sébastien Ogier – 141 pts
- Kalle Rovanperä – 138 pts
- Thierry Neuville – 114 pts
- Adrien Fourmaux – 71 pts
- Takamoto Katsuta – 63 pts
- Oliver Solberg – 52 pts
- Sami Pajari – 38 pts
- Grégoire Munster – 19 pts
2025 FIA WRC Standings – Manufacturers
- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT – 399 pts
- Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – 347 pts
- M-Sport Ford WRT – 111 pts
- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT2 – 68 pts
What’s Next:
Rally Finland (July 31 – August 3) will bring the World Rally Championship back to Toyota’s backyard. Expect high speeds, fierce competition, and a passionate crowd in Jyväskylä as TGR-WRT aims to extend its lead—and as the world waits to see if Solberg’s fairy-tale continues.
