Sebastien Ogier celebrates his 64th victory in his WRC career in Sardinia: The harsh conditions prove fatal for many drivers
Toyota driver Sebastien Ogier won the Rally Italy on Sunday, the sixth round of the 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC). The eight-time world champion finished the gravel rally on the Mediterranean island of Sardinia with a 7.9-second lead over Ott Tänak (Hyundai) after 16 special stages covering a total of 320.08 kilometers. Ogier’s teammate Kalle Rovanperä finished third (+50.5 seconds).
For Ogier, it was his third victory in his fourth start of the season and the 64th of his WRC career. This moved him up to second place in the World Championship standings, which continues to be led by Evans. At the same time, Toyota retains its clean slate and remains unbeaten in the 2025 WRC season. (to the results)
In the end, however, Ogier’s fifth victory in Sardinia hung in the balance. On the Power Stage, he skidded into a tree while braking for a corner and had to back up. The driving error cost him around ten seconds, but in the end he managed to hold on to a narrow lead to the finish line.
“I just couldn’t steer the car in the ruts. Since I was slow, I didn’t force it, but simply stopped and reversed,” said Ogier about his mistake. “Not ideal, but enough to win.”
Hardly any drivers made it to the finish line without problems
Two more Toyota drivers followed in fourth and fifth place with Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta. Oliver Solberg (Toyota) was the best-placed Rally2 driver in sixth overall, followed by Sami Pajari in the factory team’s fifth Toyota. Rally2 drivers Nikolai Gryasin, Roberto Dapra (both Skoda) and Kajetan Kajetanowicz (Toyota) completed the top 10.
High temperatures and unforgiving gravel roads made this year’s Rally Italy a real test of endurance, which only the top three were able to survive without any major difficulties. The M-Sport team suffered a total debacle on the second special stage on Friday.
Gregoire Munster and Joshua McErlean destroyed the suspension of their cars in collisions, while Martins Sesks rolled his Puma. For all three, the rally was over before it had even really begun. Only Munster and McErlean were able to restart on Saturday.
Hyundai initially dominated the action at the front, but then Thierry Neuville suffered a setback on the fifth special stage. The reigning world champion made contact with a wall and had to retire with a damaged rear suspension.
Toyota remains unbeaten in the 2025 WRC season
After taking the lead on the sixth special stage, Ogier initially battled with his compatriot Adrien Fourmaux (Hyundai) on Saturday, with the rough conditions deciding the outcome. Fourmaux collided with a rock, which resulted in a puncture. Things got even worse for him on the eleventh special stage: after rolling over, his day was over.
With Evans and Katsuta also losing time due to tire damage, Tänak remained the only rival within striking distance of Ogier. The Estonian started the final day 11.1 seconds behind Ogier and went on the attack, but was initially unable to close the gap. Even Ogier’s mistake on the Power Stage did not help Tänak.
After six of 14 races in the season, Evans continues to lead the drivers’ championship with 133 points. Part-time drivers Ogier (114) and Rovanperä (113) follow in second and third place. Tänak is the best Hyundai driver in fourth place (108). In the manufacturers’ standings, Toyota (312) leads ahead of Hyundai (243) and M-Sport (87).
The 2025 World Rally Championship continues from June 26 to 29 with the Acropolis Rally in Greece.