TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Dominates Rally Finland with Historic Top-Five Sweep

Rovanperä finally claims emotional home win as GR YARIS Rally1 locks out the leaderboard

In a performance that will be remembered for decades, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) delivered a commanding 1-2-3-4-5 finish on home soil at Rally Finland, marking a historic milestone for the team and a dream victory for local star Kalle Rovanperä.

One year after heartbreak in the forests of Jyväskylä, where he crashed out of the lead on the penultimate stage, Rovanperä and co-driver Jonne Halttunen returned with vengeance to clinch their maiden win at their home event. Their triumph was nothing short of dominant: 10 stage wins, victory in the legendary Ouninpohja Power Stage, and an unbeaten run from the opening gravel stage on Friday through to Sunday afternoon. The 23-year-old Finn’s average speed of 129.9 km/h also set a new FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) record – the fastest rally win in series history.

“Winning Rally Finland is something I’ve always dreamed of,” said Rovanperä. “It’s been a long time coming and this one is for all the fans and everyone in the team who worked so hard for it.”

A Finnish Fairytale: Toyota’s Historic 1-2-3-4-5 Finish

Takamoto Katsuta delivered a near-flawless drive to finish second overall alongside co-driver Aaron Johnston – his second Rally Finland podium – just 39.2 seconds adrift of Rovanperä. His pace on the Power Stage ensured he held off Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, who completed the podium a further 5.9 seconds back.

Ogier’s third place ahead of Elfyn Evans – who had briefly threatened to close the gap with a stage win on Sunday morning – further bolstered Toyota’s charge. While Evans had to settle for fourth overall, his haul of points was enough to reclaim the lead in the drivers’ championship, now just three points ahead of Rovanperä with five rounds remaining.

Completing the all-Toyota top five was young Finn Sami Pajari. In only his third Rally1 event, Pajari impressed with three stage wins and consistent pace, confirming his rising status on the world stage.

The feat marks only the second time in WRC history that a single manufacturer has secured the top five positions at the end of an event – the last being Lancia at Rally Portugal in 1990. Remarkably, Juha Kankkunen – now Deputy Team Principal at TGR-WRT – was part of that result as a driver, and he was on hand this weekend to witness history repeat itself.

“I think I have a dream team,” said Kankkunen. “Every one of our drivers delivered this weekend – from Kalle’s incredible speed to Taka’s calm consistency. This is a special moment, not just for the team, but for the whole of Finland.”

Toyota Gazoo Racing Dominates Rally Finland With Historic Top Five Sweep 2

Rally2 Success Adds to the Trophy Cabinet

The celebration extended beyond Rally1, as the GR Yaris Rally2 secured a one-two finish in WRC2. Roope Korhonen and co-driver Anssi Viinikka earned a maiden class win for Rautio Motorsport, narrowly edging out none other than TGR-WRT Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala – who stepped behind the wheel alongside Janni Hussi and finished just 1.1 seconds behind.

Further adding to the Rally2 success, Yuki Yamamoto delivered his best performance to date in the category, finishing fifth and securing his first stage win in the process.

Chairman Akio Toyoda’s Message of Gratitude

TGR-WRT Chairman Akio Toyoda praised the collective effort behind the record-setting result:

“Congratulations to all the crews for this 1-2-3-4-5 finish! Including the GR Yaris Rally2 win and Jari-Matti’s result in WRC2, this was a perfect way to give back to our hometown of Jyväskylä. I’m especially happy for Kalle and Jonne – finally lifting the trophy here must mean the world to them. We’ll keep working hard together toward the next rallies.”

The Road Ahead

With eight wins from nine events in 2025, Toyota now leads the manufacturers’ championship by a commanding 87-point margin. And while the fight for the drivers’ title remains tight – with just 13 points separating the top three of Evans, Rovanperä, and Ogier – this weekend’s result sends a clear message: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is setting the pace, on all surfaces.

The WRC now heads to uncharted territory as the championship makes its debut in Paraguay from 28–31 August, followed by Rally Chile two weeks later – the start of a pivotal South American double-header.

Provisional Final Classification – Rally Finland 2025