WRC
Bejenaru’s Central Europe stunner crowned WRC Photo of the Year
Stefan Bejenaru has been named winner of the 2025 WRC Photo of the Year, following a public vote that crowned his dramatic Central European Rally image as the standout photograph of the season.
Captured during the autumn asphalt classic, Bejenaru’s winning shot freezes Josh McErlean mid-flight in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, framed by vivid colours, flying leaves and a wall of spectators raising their phones as the car launches past the WRC - More Than a Machine gantry.
The image, taken at Central European Rally, stood out among a shortlist packed with world-class rally photography, with fans ultimately selecting Bejenaru’s composition as the defining visual moment of the 2025 season.
“I’m thrilled, and I still find it hard to put into words the emotions I’ve felt since hearing the news,” said Bejenaru. “In a world where time is incredibly precious, I want to thank everyone who visited the WRC website and voted for my photo - especially since I was shortlisted alongside some of the best photographers in the rally scene.”
He added that the photograph was an immediate favourite from the moment he pressed the shutter. “I knew from the moment I captured it at the Central European Rally that it would be my submission for the WRC Photo of the Year. It had a bit of everything: vibrant autumn colours, a flying Puma with its spectacular livery, spectators in the frame and, of course, WRC - More Than a Machine.”
The annual WRC Photo of the Year competition celebrates the best imagery from across the FIA World Rally Championship season, with the final winner decided by fan vote following a curated shortlist of standout images from rallies around the globe.
© Stefan Bejenaru
