French driver Sébastien Ogier of the Toyota Gazoo Racing team has won the 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) by finishing third in the demanding Rally of Saudi Arabia. This result allowed him to secure his ninth world title thanks to a strategic comeback in the penultimate special stage and the problems faced by several of his direct rivals. This achievement also marked the first title for his co-driver, Vincent Landais, who joined the Toyota project at the end of 2022. Ogier and Landais's 2025 campaign was as surprising as it was dominant. They also won the most stages, demonstrating technical and mental superiority despite a reduced calendar. Elfyn Evans, for his part, was once again just shy of the title. Ogier entered the final day with a slim lead over his teammate Elfyn Evans. Thierry Neuville, the rally winner, celebrated his first victory of the season in an event that punished nearly everyone with punctures, crashes, and mechanical issues. The final day also produced one of the year's biggest stories: Mārtiņš Sesks, the standout revelation for M-Sport Ford, led much of the rally until a double puncture in Asfan dropped him down the standings.
