WRC2
Domínguez seals dream home WRC2 victory in Paraguay
Diego Domínguez sent the home crowds into celebration on Sunday by sealing an emotional WRC2 victory at ueno Rally del Paraguay.
The Paraguayan, co-driven by Rogelio Peñate, completed the rally 22.7sec clear of Gus Greensmith and an impressive seventh overall, having led the category since Friday afternoon.
Domínguez began the final day with 24.3sec in hand and immediately added another 5.9sec on the opening Encarnación test as increasingly muddy conditions made the closing kilometres particularly treacherous.
Greensmith responded on Artigas, taking 5.5sec back from the leader, but with the gap still standing at 24.7sec his hopes required a mistake from the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 ahead.
None came.
The penultimate stage was red-flagged and not restarted following Takamoto Katsuta’s accident, leaving only the Wolf Power Stage, where Domínguez safely completed the job.
“Unbelievable,” he said at the finish. “This one is for all of them. Especially for my dad who helped me, pushed me to get this and continue my career in rallying.
“I need to cry and get some beer urgently!”
Greensmith’s runner-up finish marked a welcome return to the WRC2 podium after a difficult season. The Briton had battled brake problems on Saturday and an excursion on the evening’s Encarnación Costanera super special, but remained Domínguez’s closest challenger throughout.
“It’s not been a good year, so happy to be back on the podium now and be fighting at the front,” he said. “I hope all goes well for Diego, and thank you to Paraguay for such a great event.”
The final podium place also went to the host nation.
Fau Zaldivar had occupied third going into Sunday but crashed just 300 metres from the finish of SS19 Artigas, promoting Alejandro Galanti into the position.
Galanti held firm through the remainder of the rally to finish 2min 42.5sec behind Domínguez and 13.9sec ahead of Australian Taylor Gill.
Gill’s fourth-place finish capped a measured weekend for the Toksport WRT 2 driver, while Nikolay Gryazin and Yohan Rossel completed the top six.
Despite a difficult rally individually, fifth and sixth were enough for Gryazin and Rossel to secure the WRC2 Teams’ Championship for Lancia Corse HF in the Italian marque’s first season back in the World Rally Championship.
Lancia arrived in Paraguay on 195 points and, with both crews nominated to score, their combined result put the Teams’ crown beyond the reach of Toksport WRT.
Championship leader Robert Virves, meanwhile, saw his perfect run of four wins from four 2026 WRC2 starts end after going off on Friday’s opening stage. Alejandro Cachón rolled on the same test, while Romet Jürgenson and Marco Bulacia were among the other frontrunners to hit trouble later in the weekend.
