Dubai, UAE – 03 September 2025: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) delivered a commanding one-two finish on the FIA World Rally Championship’s (WRC) debut in Rally del Paraguay, led by Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais in the No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. The crew claimed their first-ever South American victory and Ogier’s fourth victory of the season, finishing ahead of teammates Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin in the No. 33 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1.
The team’s ninth win of the season is also Toyota’s 102nd in WRC history, a total that now places it alongside the record for most victories by any manufacturer and extends its manufacturers’ lead to 100 points with four rounds remaining.
Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: “On the tough and completely new roads of Paraguay, Seb and Vincent achieved a magnificent victory. Thank you for never giving up and continuing to push through such rough conditions and bad weather! Elfyn and Scott also secured second place, and I’m really glad they were able to maintain the championship lead!
Taking on the challenge of a rally on unfamiliar roads without even the chance for a pre-event test must have been incredibly tough, both in preparation and in the event itself. The efforts of every single team member led to this fantastic result. Thanks to that, this rally became a very meaningful one in our fight for the championship. Well done, team!
One more rally remains here in South America, and after that the fight continues in Europe, Japan, and the Middle East with big transfers in between. Please continue to put health first as we push through the last four rallies. Let’s make sure this season stays a joyful one with plenty of smiles!”
The FIA WRC’s first-ever Paraguay event provided a tough new challenge with red clay gravel roads, unpredictable grip levels, and sharp rocks testing both vehicles and tyres. Heavy downpour in the closing stages made the finale even more demanding.
Ogier and Landais overcame an early setback to climb back through the field with nine stage wins, showing relentless speed and consistency. Their dominant drive secured victory by 26.2 seconds, marking Ogier’s 65th overall WRC win as well as his first ever in South America.
Evans and Martin produced a measured performance to return to the podium, navigating slippery stages to seize second place on the rally’s final test. The result extends Evans’ drivers’ championship lead to seven points.
Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.
Round 11 of the 2025 FIA WRC is Rally Chile (September 11-14), the second consecutive event in South America. Taking place in the forests of the Biobío region overlooking the Pacific Ocean, the rally features fast and technical stages on a mix of smooth and abrasive gravel.
Race Notes:
- No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais)
- Position: 1st
- Time: 3 hours, 6 minutes, and 6 seconds
- No. 33 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin)
- Position: 2nd
Time: 3 hours, 32 minutes, and 8 seconds