The World Rally Championship enters its hottest phase of the year, and it does so at the temple of speed. From 31 July to 3 August, the Secto Rally Finland hosts round nine of the 2025 WRC season, with the closest title fight in years.
Ott Tänak arrives in Jyväskylä with the narrowest of leads: just a single point over Elfyn Evans after finishing second in Estonia earlier this month. Finland’s lightning-fast gravel stages, with average speeds over 120 kph and huge jumps, will set the scene for the next chapter of their thrilling battle.
The Hyundai driver, a three-time winner in Finland (2018, 2019 and 2022), will open the road on Friday, a slight disadvantage, but less punishing than on rougher rallies. Evans, twice a winner here, will benefit from a better starting position with his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
Sébastien Ogier lies 21 points behind in third and returns after skipping Estonia. The eight-time world champion has already dominated selected events this year, winning in Monte-Carlo, Portugal and Sardinia, making him a dangerous wildcard in the title race.
In fourth place, Kalle Rovanperä is looking to finally take victory on home soil after crashing out while leading in 2024. “We’ve had good chances to win there with good pace in the last two years and didn’t quite manage to do it. We continue to work hard with the team to improve upon the pace that we’ve had on gravel so far this year,” said the two-time champion, who competes just kilometres from where he learned his craft.
Toyota Gazoo Racing, leading the manufacturers’ standings, has a full five-car line-up: alongside Evans and Rovanperä, there will be Ogier, Takamoto Katsuta and young Finn Sami Pajari. Hyundai Motorsport fields Tänak, reigning world champion Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux, while M-Sport Ford enters Munster, McErlean and Sesks with their Puma Rally1 cars.
The route includes 307 timed kilometres across 20 fast-flowing gravel stages, with a spectacular Sunday finale featuring double runs through the legendary Ouninpohja stage.
With such a tight battle and Finland ready to deliver breathtaking action, this weekend promises to be one of the most intense and spectacular moments of the 2025 WRC season.