“Eighteen times Toyota” Sébastien Ogier takes victory in the WRC Ueno Rally Paraguay

The third stage, marked by rain in some areas at the end of the competition, was practically a mere formality in order to maintain the differences, as the changing terrain did not interfere during the entire day.

In the distribution of special stages, the brand-new winner only took the first pass on the Bella Vista stage, Thierry Neuville set the scratch time on both passes to the Jesuit Missions of Trinidad (which implies the Power Stage), and Kalle Rovanperä took the second lap on the stage won by his teammate in the Colonias Unidas area.

Although the victory went to the eight-time world champion, the biggest beneficiary was his teammate Elfyn Evans, who, occupying the second step of the podium, earned the points necessary to remain the leader of the competition. With four rounds remaining until the end of the 2025 season, Evans (198), Rovanpera (191), and Ogier (189) are separated by 9 points.

Paraguayan performance in the event

As locals, we naturally went all out, and this was reflected in no less than three different podium finishes for Paraguayan drivers. Fabrizio Zaldívar in the WRC2 Challenger; his father, Miguel Zaldívar Sr., and Blas Zapag Sr. in the Master Cup; and Juan Cabrera in the RC4 class were the Paraguayans who achieved the best results after completing more than 330 kilometers of competition in the Department of Itapúa.

A special prize for the winners

In its role of National Sporting Authority, after the event awards ceremony, during the last Media Zone held at the entrance to the service park, the Touring and Automobile Club of Paraguay, through some members of its Board of Directors, presented trophies of recognition to the winners of the overall classification, the WRC2, the WRC3, the RC4 class, and the highest-ranked national crew.

Final results (subject to verification) of the WRC Rally del Paraguay

Overall

1. Sébastien OGIER (FRA) / Vincent LANDAIS (FRA) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2. Elfyn EVANS (GBR) / Scott MARTIN (GBR) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
3. Thierry NEUVILLE (BEL) / Martijn WYDAEGHE (BEL) – Hyundai i20 N Rally1

FIA WRC-2 Championship

1. Oliver SOLBERG (SWE) / Elliott EDMONDSON (GBR) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
2. Yohan ROSSEL (FRA) / Arnaud DUNAND (FRA) – Citroën C3 Rally2
3. Nikolay GRYAZIN (HUN) / Konstantin ALEKSANDROV (KGZ) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2

FIA WRC-2 Challenger Championship

1. Nikolay GRYAZIN (HUN) / Konstantin ALEKSANDROV (KGZ) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
2. Fabrizio ZALDÍVAR (PAR) / Marcelo DER OHANNESIAN (ITA) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
3. Robert VIRVES (EST) / Jakko VIILO (EST) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2

FIA WRC-3 Championship

1. Matteo FONTANA (ITA) / Alessandro ARNABOLDI (ITA) – Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo
2. Ghjuvanni ROSSI (FRA) / Kylian SARMEZAN (FRA) – Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo
3. Eduardo CASTRO (PER) / Julio ECHAZÚ (PER) – Ford Fiesta Rally3 Evo

WRC Masters Cup

1. Miguel ZALDÍVAR Sr. (PAR) / Rubén GARCÍA (ARG) – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
2. Blas ZAPAG Sr. (PAR) / Enrique FRATTA (PAR) – Volkswagen Polo GTi R5
3. Jorge MARTÍNEZ (PER) / José ARÓS (CHL) – Hyundai I20 N Rally2

RC4 class (no support championship)

1. Santiago RUÍZ (URU) / Matías RUÍZ (URU) – Peugeot 208 Rally4
2. Manuel IRALA (PAR) / Juan CABRERA (PAR) – Peugeot 208 Rally4
3. Héctor FINKE (ARG) / Marcos ESPINDOLA (ARG) – Peugeot 208 Rally4