The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team celebrates a historic victory at Rally Finland. In addition to the win by Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen, four other Toyota crews secured the following positions with the GR YARIS Rally1.
Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen claimed their first-ever victory on home soil after last year’s heartbreak, when they were forced to retire from the lead on the final stage. This year, they took control of the rally from Friday and went on to win ten special stages, earning a dominant victory and the maximum 35 points.
Their performance set a new record in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship, with an average speed of 129.9 km/h!
Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston finished second, celebrating their second podium in the last three rallies. In third place, just 5.9 seconds behind, were Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, who also recorded the third-fastest time on the Power Stage. Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin finished fourth overall, a result that puts Evans back in the lead of the drivers’ championship, three points ahead of Rovanperä, with Ogier ten points further behind in third.
With its eighth victory in nine events this season, TGR-WRT extends its lead in the manufacturers’ championship to 87 points.
Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen completed a perfect weekend for the team, finishing fifth after one of their strongest performances in a Rally1 event on home ground, also winning three special stages.
