TOYOTA GAZOO Racing Clinches Double-Podium Win at Rally Italia Sardegna

Al Bawaba

11-06-2025

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) has maintained its 100 percent winning record in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship season with a first- and third-place finish at Rally Italia Sardegna. Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais battled through to the final stage to claim victory in the No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. With his fifth victory at the event, Sébastien Ogier becomes its most successful driver since the FIA World Rally Championship began visiting Sardinia in 2004. This also marks his third win from four starts this season.Teammates Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen once again secured a double podium finish by placing third in the No. 69 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. TGR-WRT continues to dominate the top three positions in the drivers' championship, while Toyota has extended its lead in the manufacturers' standings to 69 points.Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: 'For us, TGR-WRT, Sardinia is truly a tough event. This year, we had a close call in the Power Stage, and Seb redeemed himself! It's a wonderful fifth victory for him in Sardinia. I am very thankful to Seb and Vincent. The team experienced several issues, but I'm also happy that all five cars completed the rally without any retirements and made it back to the finish. Being challenged on such a tough road helps us become stronger. And TOYOTA GAZOO Racing will continue to make ever-better cars as we overcome obstacles one by one through rally stages.'This year's edition of the Italian island event lived up to its reputation, with ambient temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius and rough, rocky roads pushing drivers, vehicles, and tires to their limits. Despite this, Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais delivered a strong performance to seize a narrow lead in the final stage of the opening day.The battle for victory intensified during the penultimate day, with Ogier engaging in a close contest. He carried an 11.1-second lead into the final day, which featured a pair of new stages run twice. Ogier extended his advantage in the morning after setting the fastest time in the opening stage. A brief scare came in the Power Stage when a half-spin towards a tree forced him to reverse in deep ruts, but he recovered to seal victory by 7.9 seconds.Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen completed a double podium for the team with a third-place finish. After running second on the road during the opening day, they maintained consistent pace and avoided issues, saving their best for the rally-ending Power Stage, which they won by 8.1 seconds to also top the Super Sunday classification.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 7 of the 2025 FIA WRC is the Acropolis Rally in Greece (June 26–29), which completes a trio of demanding gravel events in southern Europe. This legendary event has a reputation for its rocky mountain roads and high temperatures.Race Notes:• No. 17 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais)• Position: 1st• Time: 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 24.5 seconds● No. 69 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 (Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen)• Position: 3rd
• Time: 3 hours, 35 minutes, and 15 seconds