The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is set to break new ground this week (28–31 August) as Paraguay becomes the 38th nation to host a world championship rally. The inaugural ueno Rally del Paraguay will unfold around the city of Encarnación, offering competitors a true level playing field with unfamiliar roads where adaptability, rather than local knowledge, will decide the outcome.
The timing of this debut could not be more dramatic. Just three points separate championship leader Elfyn Evans from his Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Kalle Rovanperä after nine intense rounds. Evans reclaimed the lead with a runner-up finish at last month’s Secto Rally Finland, while Rovanperä reignited his title defense by storming to a dominant home victory, winning 15 of 18 stages at record-breaking speeds.
“After Rally Finland we’re back in the lead of the drivers’ championship, but the pack is incredibly close, so we can expect a big fight until the end of the season. It’s always a big challenge to prepare for a new rally, especially when it’s outside of Europe and we’re not able to test there beforehand.”
said Evans
Rovanperä, now brimming with confidence, is equally aware of the unpredictable challenge ahead.
“The result in Finland was amazing for us and for the team, and the points we got were really valuable for the championship. Paraguay will be a new rally for everyone and we don’t really know what to expect, but hopefully it can suit us well.”
he said
Toyota has dominated the 2025 season so far with eight wins from nine rallies. Their five-strong GR Yaris Rally1 line-up features Evans, Rovanperä, eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, Takamoto Katsuta, and rising star Sami Pajari. Ogier remains firmly in the title mix, just 13 points adrift of Evans.
Rival squads are equally motivated. Hyundai Motorsport brings defending champion Thierry Neuville, 2019 title-holder Ott Tänak—also 13 points off the lead—and Adrien Fourmaux. Meanwhile, M-Sport Ford will compete with their Puma Rally1s, piloted by Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean.
The ueno Rally del Paraguay kicks off Thursday, featuring 19 special stages spanning 333.18 kilometres before Sunday’s finish. With so much at stake and the title race finely poised, the WRC’s South American debut promises to be one of the most thrilling rounds of the season.
The WRC, the FIA’s premier rally series, pits the world’s best drivers and high-performance rally cars against extreme conditions across 14 global events—from Sweden’s icy forests to Kenya’s blistering heat. Fans can follow all the action and updates at www.wrc.com.