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Ott Tanak sprints ahead in WRC Rally Saudi Arabia: Ogier battles Evans in title showdown

Redação by Redação
November 27, 2025
in Motorsports, WRC
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Ott Tanak sprints ahead in WRC Rally Saudi Arabia: Ogier battles Evans in title showdown

Sebastien Ogier (FRA) Vincent Landais (FRA) Of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Saudi Arabia in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 26,November. 2025 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202511260382 // Usage for editorial use only //

Title: Ott Tanak Dominates Opening Stage of Rally Saudi Arabia as Sebastien Ogier Steals the Spotlight from Title Rival Elfyn Evans

In a thrilling start to the much-anticipated Rally Saudi Arabia, Ott Tanak stormed through the inaugural super special stage, leaving his competitors in the dust and asserting his dominance in the World Rally Championship (WRC) finale. Racing through the 5.22km Jameel Motorsport Super Special stage in Jeddah on Wednesday night, Tanak’s blistering performance not only secured him an early lead but also set the stage for what promises to be a fierce showdown for the 2025 title.

The Estonian powerhouse, driving for Hyundai, clocked an impressive time that outpaced fellow title contender Kalle Rovanpera by a staggering 2.5 seconds, proving that he is still a formidable force in the rallying circuit. This event marks Tanak’s last WRC appearance before he takes a sabbatical in 2026, making his early lead all the more significant. “I’m not sure about the performance and hopefully the reliability will be a bit better than it has been this year,” Tanak expressed, bracing himself for the unpredictable challenges ahead. “A tricky one [rally] and very difficult to predict, we just need to go for it and manage it the best.”

Not to be overshadowed, seven-time champion Sebastien Ogier edged out his title rival Elfyn Evans in a nail-biting duel, finishing just 1.2 seconds behind Tanak. Ogier’s victory over Evans by 0.9 seconds in their head-to-head clash adds a tantalizing layer of drama to the championship race, as he seeks to claw back the three-point deficit that currently separates them. “We are grown up enough to know that tomorrow is when the rally starts, and in here you can only lose the rally,” Ogier noted, underscoring the gravity of the competition. “We will try our best and it will be a tough weekend ahead but we are focused.”

Evans, who secured the fifth fastest time of the night, is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead. He finished 2.1 seconds behind, trailing behind returning M-Sport Ford driver Martins Sesks and reigning world champion Thierry Neuville of Hyundai. “Getting to the end will already be a challenge,” Evans admitted. “Of course, we are going to have to drive well but drive with our heads this weekend. We will give it the best shot we can.”

Neuville, looking to salvage a disappointing title defense, expressed optimism for a strong finish, emphasizing the importance of enjoying the experience. “It is the last rally of the year and will be about getting the good feeling straight away and having fun out there. Usually, if you have fun, things work well,” he stated, focusing on delivering a solid performance for his team despite the struggles of the season.

Meanwhile, Kalle Rovanpera, who faced understeer issues during his run, labeled his performance as “disgusting,” finishing sixth. The rest of the top ten included Toyota’s Sami Pajari, Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, Takamoto Katsuta, and M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster. Adding to the excitement, five-time Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah made a dramatic return, yet was penalized with a ten-second jump start penalty, dropping him out of the top 20.

As the rally continues, teams will tackle six grueling gravel stages on Thursday, culminating in another exciting run through the Jameel Motorsport Super Special. With the stakes higher than ever, the battle for the 2025 WRC title is heating up, and every second counts in this thrilling race against time. Prepare for an electrifying weekend of rallying that promises to keep fans on the edge of their seats!

Tags: 2025-fia-world-rally-championship2025-toyota-usa-track-and-field-championships2025-wrc-championshipElfyn Evanshyundai-bossm-sport-fordott-tanak-2Sébastien Ogier
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