Kalle Rovanperä delivered a masterclass in driving to win Rally Finland with a remarkable average speed of 129.9 km/h — officially the fastest rally in history. With this victory, the Finn has re-entered the battle for the world title. Toyota achieved the rare feat of placing five cars in the top five positions, in a rally that proved disastrous for rivals Hyundai.
Formerly known as the “Rally of the 1000 Lakes”, the event retains its iconic high-speed stages, with breathtaking jumps and average speeds reaching 140 km/h — all on slippery gravel roads. It remains one of the most demanding rounds on the WRC calendar, testing both machines and drivers to their limits. Grip, stability, and razor-sharp precision are essential, as the smallest mistake can end in a violent crash. It is in this unforgiving environment that many world rally champions were forged, although Nordic dominance waned with the rise of the French and Spanish rally schools in the 1990s.
Just prior to the start of the ninth round of the World Championship, several updates for the 2026 season were announced. The FIA will grant greater technical freedom in the development of Rally1 cars, while keeping costs under control. Teams will be allowed to use two homologation jokers to implement specific technical upgrades outside the standard regulatory framework. Following this decision, Hyundai confirmed its continued participation in next year’s championship.
Ott Tänak arrived in Finland leading the standings, but it was Toyota who celebrated, locking out the top five positions in a display of speed and reliability. The Japanese manufacturer’s drivers won 16 stages, leaving just five stage wins for Hyundai.
Rovanperä, who had struggled in recent rallies, took full advantage of his home event to relieve the pressure. He ended the first leg 4.9 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville. On day two, he crushed the competition, finishing with a commanding lead of 36.1 seconds over the surprising Takamoto Katsuta. Hyundai’s hopes faded when both Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux suffered punctures in the same stage while fighting for the lead. Tänak lost significant time after hitting a tree — but not before he had already been handed a five-minute penalty following an incident with a technical marshal.
The rally concluded with a double run through the legendary Ouninpohja stage — one of the most iconic in world rallying. Despite having the rally under control, Toyota’s drivers pushed hard to collect additional points on Super Sunday and in the Power Stage. Rovanperä took his first-ever Rally Finland win with a sensational performance, claiming 10 stage victories — double the tally of Hyundai’s three drivers combined.
“It’s an amazing feeling to win Rally Finland,” said Rovanperä. “It took a long time and I’m really happy. Everyone worked so hard this year to make this happen. We gave our best all weekend. It’s also a historic moment for Toyota — everyone did a brilliant job. The final day was intense and I gave it everything in one of the toughest stages to get those extra points.”
The surprise of the event was Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta’s second-place finish, staying ahead of eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier.
“I’m pleased with my performance, and the car worked really well,” said Katsuta. “It’s great to be back on the podium and to finish second in Finland, a place that means so much to me and the team. I’m also happy for Kalle — he finally managed to win here after so much bad luck. Before the rally, we promised each other we’d be on the podium together.”
Sébastien Ogier returned to the WRC aiming for a ninth drivers’ title:
“It’s an incredible result, especially here in Finland where the team is based. The team has worked so hard all year and I’m proud to be part of a historic result. I’m also happy for Kalle — he truly deserved this win. It wasn’t an easy weekend for me and I struggled to find the rhythm, but after several changes, it felt fantastic to drive this car on such an epic stage.”
Roope Korhonen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) won the WRC2 category, taking advantage of a crash by favourite Oliver Solberg. The 26-year-old Finn finished just 1.1 seconds ahead of Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2). The 40-year-old Toyota Gazoo Racing Team Principal put his helmet back on and proved to the younger generation that he still has what it takes to compete at the top.
Also worth noting was the non-competitive participation of the Toyota Yaris Rally2 H2 Concept, powered by a hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine aimed at reducing emissions. Former world champion Juha Kankkunen drove the car in two stages in central Harju:
“It’s an exciting project that allows us to showcase the potential of hydrogen technology, while preserving the sound and performance of a rally car,” he stated.
The drivers’ championship remains wide open, with Evans, Rovanperä, Ogier, and Tänak separated by just 13 points. Toyota has extended its lead in the manufacturers’ standings, while Hyundai failed to replicate the strong results achieved in previous rounds. It was only the second time in WRC history that a single manufacturer secured the top five places in a rally — the last time being Lancia’s dominant performance at Rally Portugal in 1990.
The World Rally Championship now heads to South America for the debut of Rally Paraguay (28–31 August), a gravel event featuring 19 stages over 335 kilometres.
Final Classification
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Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) – 2h21m51.4s
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Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) – +39.2s
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Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) – +45.1s
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Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) – +48.1s
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Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) – +1m18.8s
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Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +2m01.5s
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Josh McErlean / Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) – +4m07.4s
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Martinš Sesks / Renars Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) – +5m17.2s
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Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) – +5m24.9s
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Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +7m38.4s
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Roope Korhonen / Anssi Viinikka (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) – +7m56.4s (1st WRC2)
Drivers’ Championship Standings
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Elfyn Evans (Toyota) – 176 pts
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Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) – 173 pts
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Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) – 163 pts
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Ott Tänak (Hyundai) – 163 pts
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Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – 125 pts
Manufacturers’ Championship Standings
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Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – 458 pts
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Hyundai World Rally Team – 371 pts
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M-Sport Ford World Rally Team – 129 pts
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Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 – 85 pts