Quotes:
Akio Toyoda (TGR-WRT Chairman)
“Oliver, Elliott, congratulations on your victory!
It was three years ago in Belgium when I met Oliver in a Hyundai racesuit at the podium. When he got out of the i20, he spotted the legend, Juha Kankkunen. Determined to take a photo with the legend, he handed me his mobile phone and asked me to take the photo. I bent down and took a picture of him and Juha. Afterward, his father said “thank you” to me, but I think I only got a shy smile from him… There is still a video of that moment, which I will post on my official Instagram. I took today’s victory by Oliver as a ‘thank you’ for three years ago. If he wins next time while I’m on site, I will rush over to him, so I hope he will take a photo with me and if Juha is there, I will ask him to take the photo!
I’ve heard from the team that Juha has been giving Oliver various pieces of advice as it was his first time to compete with the GR YARIS Rally1. I am very grateful to Juha. I believe they will take another nice photo together, this time with Oliver in TOYOTA GAZOO Racing overalls.
The next rally is our home rally. We will put on the best performance for the people of Jyväskylä who always support us. I’m counting on everyone in the team!”
Juha Kankkunen (Deputy Team Principal)
“This has been such an unbelievable weekend from Oliver. I think I felt more nervous watching him than he was behind the wheel. It was such a very clean drive against some really experienced drivers. Anyone would feel a bit of pressure when such drivers are pushing hard behind you, but he handled it so very well. It’s been a pleasure for us to give him this opportunity and to see him take it so well, and for this to be the 100th win for Toyota too. It was also good that Kalle could win the Power Stage today, and now we will concentrate on Rally Finland and keep working to be strong there on our home rally.”
Elfyn Evans (Driver car 33)
“It’s been a tough weekend. Of course, our road position did hamper us a bit on Friday but I also think we didn’t have the speed to challenge like we wanted to. We tried our best today and scored a few extra points but we can’t be too satisfied at the end of the weekend. I’m looking forward to Rally Finland like always and we’ll keep working together with the team to find a bit more speed there.”
Kalle Rovanperä (Driver car 69)
“We kept pushing this weekend and trying everything we can, and at least we could take full points from the Power Stage. Overall though it’s clear that I don’t currently have the pace we want on gravel with this year’s package. There are no excuses and we will keep working on it with the team, keep pushing and trying to find something more for Rally Finland, which we will look forward to like every year.”
Takamoto Katsuta (Driver car 18)
“We have been managing something on the car since yesterday and unfortunately today it got worse, so the decision was taken to retire before the Power Stage. Performance-wise we were not so far away here but it was enough in this kind of very fast event that we couldn’t challenge at the front. We will keep working to make another step forward for Rally Finland which is important for myself and the team.”
Sami Pajari (Driver car 5)
“It’s been a tricky rally. Our chances for a good result went with the issue on the first forest stage on Friday, but at least the team could solve the problem and after that I’ve been able to enjoy it and have some good times. The start position was tricky for the last two days so it was more about learning and trying to take all the experience, which is still the main target this year. The feeling was quite good and I’m looking forward to going again at Rally Finland.”
Oliver Solberg (Driver car 99)
“It’s been the most amazing weekend. I’m feeling so overwhelmingly happy, after so many years of dreaming and working for this moment. I want to say a big thank you to Toyota for giving me this opportunity and the chance to prove myself and have fun driving this amazing car. Thank you to the test team who helped me get so comfortable. I also never thought I’d get to celebrate on a podium with Juha, who has been a hero of mine since I was a kid and one I’ve been looking up to together with my father. Now this weekend he has been supporting me so well, keeping me calm and telling me what to do. I’ve never had such a good time in my life, so thank you.”
PROVISIONAL FINAL CLASSIFICATION, RALLY ESTONIA
1 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) 2h36m35.1s
2 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +25.2s
3 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +48.3s
4 Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) +55.6s
5 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1m33.0s
6 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) +1m43.4s
7 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1) +2m55.6s
8 Mārtiņš Sesks/Renārs Francis (Ford Puma Rally1) +3m36.0s
9 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) +5m29.8s
10 Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) +5m57.5s
Retired Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1)
(Results as of 12:30 on Sunday, for the latest results please visit www.wrc.com)
2025 FIA World Rally Championship for drivers after round 8:
1 Ott Tänak 162 points
2 Elfyn Evans 161
3 Sébastien Ogier 141
4 Kalle Rovanperä 138
5 Thierry Neuville 114
6 Adrien Fourmaux 71
7 Takamoto Katsuta 63
8 Oliver Solberg 52
9 Sami Pajari 38
10 Grégoire Munster 19
2025 FIA World Rally Championship for manufacturers after round 8:
1 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team 399 points
2 Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team 347
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team 111
4 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT2 68
What’s next?
Rally Finland (July 31-August 3) is the fastest rally on the calendar, run over smooth gravel roads containing many jumps. It’s also a home rally for TGR-WRT, which has its headquarters close to the service park in Jyväskylä.
