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TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) has started the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season with a commanding one-two finish at Rallye Monte-Carlo, one of motorsport’s most prestigious and challenging events.

Sébastien Ogier, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, delivered a historic performance in the No. 17 GR Yaris Rally1, securing his record-extending 10th Monte-Carlo victory and his third with TGR-WRT. This triumph also marks Toyota’s sixth overall win at the event. Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin took second place in the No. 33 GR Yaris Rally1, securing an early championship lead for both the team and Toyota in the Manufacturers’ standings.

A Milestone Victory for Ogier and Toyota

Akio Toyoda, Chairman of TGR-WRT, praised Ogier’s achievement, saying, “We were able to kick off the 2025 season with Seb’s memorable 10th victory in Monte Carlo. Up until 2019, Seb had a streak of six consecutive wins in Monte Carlo with various teams. Since joining Toyota in 2020, he has alternated between second and first place every other year. Given this pattern, I was certain he would win this year.”

Toyoda also emphasized the team’s spirit and ambitions for the season, stating, “This year, I want to make it a season we can enjoy from the bottom of our hearts as team members. And I want to experience that feeling again at Rally Japan!”

Challenging Conditions and Strategic Excellence

Rally Monte-Carlo presented highly variable conditions, with dry asphalt in the French Alps frequently disrupted by ice, mud, and gravel. The event marked a major shift for WRC teams as they adapted to the 2025 technical regulations, which removed plug-in hybrid units from Rally1 cars and introduced Hankook tires.

The competition remained tight until the dramatic final stage on the iconic Col de Turini. Ogier carried a 20.3-second lead over Evans into a cold, wet final day, where tire choices proved crucial. Both drivers opted for four studded winter tires and two supersoft slicks, excelling in the icy pre-dawn stages.

The rally-ending Power Stage featured mixed conditions, with dry ascents, icy patches, and slick descents. Ogier narrowly edged Evans by 0.215 seconds, while Evans suffered a minor setback after running wide and brushing a bank on the descent.

With this victory, Ogier has now achieved 15 WRC wins for Toyota, tying him with Kalle Rovanperä and two-time champion Carlos Sainz as the most successful Toyota drivers in WRC history. Evans and Martin also made a strong start to the season, topping the Super Sunday classification to earn five extra bonus points.

Toyota’s Legacy in Motorsport

Toyota has long been a dominant force in global motorsports, competing in Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. In 2015, Toyota consolidated its motorsport activities under the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing brand, reinforcing its philosophy that “the roads build the people, and the people build the cars.”

TGR plays a crucial role in Toyota’s mission to develop "ever-better" cars by applying knowledge gained from the toughest racing conditions. These innovations not only enhance competition performance but also contribute to the development of advanced vehicle technologies for everyday driving.

Next Stop: Rally Sweden

The WRC season continues with Rally Sweden from February 13-16, 2025. As the only full winter event on the calendar, it will challenge drivers with snow and ice-covered roads, where metal-studded tires provide grip and allow for some of the fastest racing of the season.

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