Hyundai Motorsport returns to Central European Rally, the 12th round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), aiming to extend its winning streak on the challenging tarmac roads that weave through Germany, Austria, and Czechia.

Taking place from October 16–19, the event is known for its border-crossing stages and technical complexity, with crews tackling 306.08 km of competitive distance over 18 demanding stages.

Crossing Borders: A Unique Challenge

The 2025 itinerary introduces a fresh twist: the rally begins in Germany on Thursday evening, before moving across all three host countries on Friday and Saturday. The final day on Sunday will feature the Beyond Borders stage — crossing from Austria to Germany — and Mühltal, serving as both the Power Stage and the longest test of the event.

Hyundai arrives as the defending two-time winner, with Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe victorious in 2023 and Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja taking the win in 2024 — a triumph that sealed the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles for the team.

Strategic Focus for the Championship Fight

As the season enters its decisive phase, Hyundai is sharpening its strategy. For manufacturers’ points, only the crews of Neuville/Wydaeghe and Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria will be nominated. This allows the team to provide Tänak/Järveoja with the most competitive setup for their title campaign.

Under current regulations, Tänak and Järveoja will compete in the 2025 Rallye Monte-Carlo-spec Hyundai i20 N Rally1, equipped with a new engine — without incurring a five-minute penalty. The Monte-Carlo configuration, well-suited to tarmac, will give Tänak a crucial edge in the championship chase.

Meanwhile, Neuville and Fourmaux will debut upgrades on their 2025 evo-spec Hyundai i20 N Rally1 cars, featuring new damper struts designed to further enhance handling and stability. Their task will be both to deliver strong results and to continue evolving the car’s performance package ahead of the season finale.

Team Perspective

Cyril Abiteboul, Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal, commented:

“We’re fully committed to the championship fight and pushing for every point. In supporting Ott and Martin, we’re taking advantage of the sporting regulations by introducing a new engine without penalty. They will return to the Monte-spec i20 N Rally1 after positive test feedback. Meanwhile, Thierry and Adrien will continue development of the evo-spec car with damper updates — key for Rally Japan and beyond.”

Crew Notes

Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (#8 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)

• Estonian crew aiming for maximum points in title battle

• Winners of the 2024 Central European Rally

Tänak said:

“We’ve competed here a few times now, so we know what to expect. Weather is always a major factor — the cuts make roads dirty, and grip levels change constantly. Experience really counts here. We’re still in the championship hunt, so a top performance is absolutely essential.”

Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (#1 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)

• Targeting a third consecutive podium at the event

• Winners in 2023, third place in 2024

Neuville said:

“Central European Rally is close to home and one of my favourites, but it’s unpredictable. October weather makes grip levels tricky, and the amount of cuts increases puncture risk. Finding the right balance between risk and reward is key. We’ll be pushing for another podium — ideally, the win.”

Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (#16 Hyundai i20 N Rally1)

• Won Rally2 category in 2023

• Looking to carry podium momentum from Rally Chile

Fourmaux said:

“This is one of the toughest events of the year. The contrast between the narrow Czech stages and the smoother German and Austrian roads makes tyre choice and grip assessment difficult. Switching back to tarmac after so many gravel rallies requires precision. We’re aiming to fight for the podium.”

Weekend at a Glance

• Thursday: Two loops of Golf und Therme (SS1/2, 12.83km)

• Friday: Cross-border action with Granit und Wald (SS3/8, 10.86km), Böhmerwald (SS4/7, 15.27km), and Col de Jan (SS5/6, 23.37km)

• Saturday: The longest day — Made in FRG (SS9/14, 14.30km), Keply (SS10/12, 21.95km), and Klatovy (SS11/13, 15.57km), totalling 103.64km

• Sunday: Final push with Beyond Borders (SS15/17, 12.37km) and Mühltal (SS16/18, 26.52km) — the Power Stage and event decider

Nikolay Gryazin delivered a strong performance at Rally Chile, driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, finishing in second place in the WRC2 category. The result keeps his hopes alive for the WRC2 Challenger title, despite not achieving the all-important victory. Meanwhile, other Škoda crews displayed mixed fortunes but generally competitive pace in both WRC2 and the WRC Masters Cup.

Gryazin and Aleksandrov Start Strong in Chile

From the outset, Gryazin and his co-driver Konstantin Aleksandrov showed they meant business. They clocked fastest times in two of the opening special stages, grabbing the early WRC2 lead. The momentum seemed with them. The competition — notably from Škoda teammates and rivals Oliver Solberg and Emil Lindholm — was pushing, but Gryazin’s pace and rhythm placed him in prime contention.

A Costly Mistake Delays His Charge

In the third stage, however, things shifted. A driving error caused Gryazin to slide off line, costing him crucial seconds. That mistake dropped him behind eventual winner Oliver Solberg and Lindholm, both also driving Škodas. Though initially not catastrophic, the deficit quickly widened.

As Rally Chile progressed into Saturday’s loop, Gryazin was attempting to claw back time, pushing hard. But the slip in the third stage had left a gap — almost half a minute — by the time drivers reconvened for the middle stages of the loop. Efforts to launch renewed attacks toward the final day fell short, and while the margin narrowed slightly in some sectors, it was never enough to reach the lead.

Impact on WRC2 Challenger and Teams Standings

While Gryazin didn’t win, the second place was still precious. It preserves his odds in the WRC2 Challenger title race. With just a handful of rounds remaining, every point matters. His performance also helped Toksport WRT rise in the WRC2 Teams’ classification.

Gus Greensmith, another Škoda driver, suffered technical issues during the opening leg. He later rejoined under Rally2 rules but his chances were effectively ended by that disruption. Lindholm fared better in terms of consistency, but a run-off in a later stage after re-entering, plus time losses, undermined his bid.

Other Škoda Crews: Promise & Problems

Beyond Gryazin’s podium, several other Škoda entries delivered notable efforts:

• Jorge Martínez was the top local driver, securing fourth place in the WRC2 standings.

• Fabrizio Zaldivar from Paraguay claimed fifth place, continuing to show good pace.

• Martín Scuncio from Argentina, driving an older model Fabia Rally2 evo, rounded out the top eight.

In total, Škoda drivers filled four of the top ten WRC2 positions in Chile. Not flawless — some were plagued by reliability concerns or mishaps — but clearly competitive.

Masters Cup: Granados & Martí Dominate

In the WRC Masters Cup (drivers over fifty years old), Mexico’s Miguel Granados together with Spanish co-driver Marc Martí controlled the event in their Fabia RS Rally2. Martí secured the co-drivers’ title in the Masters Cup ahead of schedule, while Granados claimed the lead in the drivers’ standings. Their dominance speaks to Škoda’s strength across categories.

Where This Leaves the Title Chase

With Rally Chile now in the books, Gryazin remains in the chase for the WRC2 Challenger crown. A win would have made his path much clearer, but second place means he still has a foot in the door. For rivals like Solberg and Lindholm, their performances bolster their own challenges — especially with reliability and stage consistency still looming as critical factors.

As the season moves toward its final rounds, expect the margin for error to shrink. Gryazin and team need to maintain pace, avoid mistakes, and manage reliability. If he can combine those with smart tactics, the WRC2 Challenger title remains within reach.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team made history at Rally Chile 2025, scoring its 103rd victory in the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) — the most wins by any manufacturer in the series. The result also marked the team’s 30th 1-2 finish, equalling another WRC record.

Ogier celebrates milestone win

In his 200th WRC start, Sébastien Ogier alongside co-driver Vincent Landais claimed his 66th career win and second in just two weeks on South American soil. Ogier also topped the Super Sunday classification and the Power Stage, earning maximum points and moving into the lead of the drivers’ standings with three rounds remaining.

“I’m very happy to take another win in South America and to also come away with the maximum points this time,” Ogier said. “To take the lead of the championship with three rallies to go is definitely positive. We can be very proud of what we’ve achieved so far.”

Evans close behind

Teammate Elfyn Evans pushed Ogier all the way through the Chilean forests of Biobío, with the two separated by just 6.3 seconds going into the final day. Evans eventually finished runner-up, just 11.0s behind, and now trails Ogier by only two points in the standings.

“It’s mixed feelings for us at the finish because we always want to win,” Evans said. “But the big positive is that we showed strong speed here after struggling two weeks ago in Paraguay. The championship is still close and we’ll keep giving it our best.”

Strong team performance

The rally brought further positives for TGR-WRT:

• Kalle Rovanperä recovered from an early setback to finish sixth and stays just 21 points off the championship lead.

• Sami Pajari impressed with fifth place in his GR YARIS Rally1.

• Takamoto Katsuta secured seventh with improved pace on the final day.

• In WRC2, Oliver Solberg clinched the 2025 championship title with victory in his GR Yaris Rally2.

Deputy Team Principal Juha Kankkunen praised the squad:

“For Toyota to now have more wins than any manufacturer in the WRC is a very special moment. Seb and Elfyn both drove really well this weekend, and the whole team can be proud of this record.”

Final Top 3 – Rally Chile 2025

1. Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 2h55m42.1s

2. Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +11.0s

3. Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +46.5s