Future second Asian/Pacific event behind WRC calendar reshuffle
Plans to add a second Asia/Pacific round to future World Rally Championship calendars is among the reasons for a reshuffle in the schedule of events for 2026. The WRC unveiled its 14-round calendar last week, which featured several changes including the omission of Rally USA and the Central European Rally. However, one of the most […]
Hyundai’s WRC future confirmed for 2026 season
Hyundai Motorsport has confirmed it will continue its factory World Rally Championship programme next year. The Korean marque’s future competing in rallying’s top tier has been the subject of speculation for several months. However, in recent weeks Hyundai’s management had been making positive comments regarding its 2026 future. On the eve of this week’s Rally […]
Clash with WRC scrutineer earns Ott Tanak 5-min penalty, suspended 35-point hit
Stewards have handed Ott Tanak a five-minute penalty and a suspended World Rally Championship 35-point deduction following an incident involving a scrutineer at Rally Finland. The incident occurred at the end of Friday’s stage seven, which proved to be eventful for the championship leader after sliding off the road and striking a tree. The impact […]
Sebastien Ogier sets sights on WRC 2025 title push
Sebastien Ogier is setting his sights on a push for a record-equalling ninth World Rally Championship title after finishing third in Rally Finland. Ogier’s sixth podium from six events contested during a part-time season this year has cut the deficit to new championship leader and team-mate Elfyn Evans to 13 points, with rounds in Paraguay, […]
Kalle Rovanpera takes historic home win in Toyota 1-2-3-4-5
Kalle Rovanpera claimed a maiden Rally Finland World Rally Championship victory after producing a dominant performance to head a Toyota top-five lockout. Two-time world champions Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen claimed 10 stage wins to defeat Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta by 39.2s in the fastest rally in WRC history, as the pair took the win […]
Kalle Rovanpera relieved to finally achieve “amazing” home WRC win
Kalle Rovanpera says finally achieving a Rally Finland victory is both an amazing feeling and a relief after ending an eight-year wait for a Finnish winner at the World Rally Championship event. Two-time world champions Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen bounced back after struggling in recent gravel events to claim a perfect 35-point victory […]
Toyota locks out top five after Hyundai punctures
Toyota is on course for a Rally Finland top-five lockout after Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux witnessed their World Rally Championship victory hopes vanish following punctures. Kalle Rovanpera benefited from the drama that hit his nearest rivals Neuville and Fourmaux, who were sitting second and third respectively in the rally, to open up a […]
WRC champion claims “all hopes are lost” after flat tire
Thierry Neuville says any hope of defending his World Rally Championship title are “lost” after a puncture derailed his shot of a podium in Rally Finland. The reigning world champion felt a strong result on Finland’s fast gravel roads would be crucial in closing the gap to his title rivals, now sitting 48 points behind […]
Kalle Rovanpera survives puncture to double lead
Kalle Rovanpera extended his Rally Finland lead on Saturday morning despite suffering a puncture, as changeable weather continued to create drama at the World Rally Championship event. The Toyota driver picked up from where he left off on Friday, winning three of the four gravel stages to increase his 4.9s overnight advantage over Hyundai’s Thierry […]