Toyota Driver Ogier Claims His 9th World Rally Championship Title

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, Toyota’s racing department, has added another championship to its tally. The World Rally Championship (WRC) season finale was held in Saudi Arabia, where Sébastien Ogier secured his ninth championship title by finishing third in the challenging rally.

Toyota’s star driver, Sébastien Ogier, achieved this great success with his co-driver Vincent Landais, making him one of only two drivers with the most World Championship titles in total.

The Saudi Arabia rally, included in the calendar for the first time, tested the limits of the drivers with its demanding structure, combining sand stages with hard and rocky mountain roads. Due to high temperatures and loose terrain, championship contenders aimed for a flawless strategy rather than chasing stage wins. Tire punctures caused time losses for Ogier and his teammates, Elfyn Evans and Kalle Rovanperä. Despite all these challenging conditions, Toyota once again demonstrated its supremacy in performance and durability.

Toyota Drivers Finish the Championship in the Top Three

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing, delivering superior performance throughout the season, emerged victorious in 12 of the 14 WRC calendar races. Completing the Manufacturers’ Championship in first place with $\text{735}$ points—a lead of $\text{224}$ points over its closest rival—Toyota achieved a flawless season.

Furthermore, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing drivers finished the 2025 season in the top three positions. Champion Sébastien Ogier scored $\text{293}$ points, followed by Elfyn Evans with $\text{289}$ points and Kalle Rovanperä with $\text{256}$ points. With this result, Ogier became the World Champion again after a four-year gap, and his co-driver, Landais, secured his first career WRC championship. Toyota, in turn, claimed its sixth championship in the last seven years.

Juha Kankkunen, Deputy Team Principal of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team, stated that the championship battle among the Toyota drivers was incredibly exciting, adding, “Ogier once again showed that he is the best driver of all time.”

Champion driver Sébastien Ogier spoke about the intense race for the top spot with his teammate, Elfyn Evans: “We had an incredible battle. To be a great champion, you need great rivals; and they were extremely strong rivals who pushed us to our limits until the very last stage of the season. I also congratulate Kalle Rovanperä and the entire team. It was a truly exceptional season, and I am proud to be part of this family.”