WRC
FIA Prize Giving crowns WRC champions in Tashkent
Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais were officially crowned FIA World Rally Championship champions as the sport gathered in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, for Friday night’s FIA Prize Giving Ceremony.
The French pairing collected their titles after a season defined by consistency, pace and a fiercely contested intra-team fight at Toyota Gazoo Racing, sealing Ogier’s ninth world championship crown and Landais’ maiden title at the sport’s highest level.
Ogier reflected on the scale of the achievement after stepping onto the stage.
“It wasn’t really the target anymore but things went so well this year,” he said. “The key is the pleasure I still have driving these cars and having this fantastic team around me. Being here for the ninth time feels a bit unreal - when I started almost 20 years ago, I would never have thought I would achieve all of this.”
For Landais, the moment carried a more personal weight as he celebrated a first world title alongside one of rallying’s all-time greats.
“It’s quite difficult to realise for me,” he admitted. “It’s a big emotion to be world champion alongside my idol. Now it’s time to enjoy, and thanks again to the Toyota family for everything.”
Toyota Gazoo Racing also took centre stage in Tashkent after being crowned manufacturers’ champions, with team principal Jari-Matti Latvala collecting the trophy on behalf of the Japanese marque following a season in which its Rally1 crews locked out the top three places in the drivers’ and co-drivers' standings.
FIA Awards 2025
© FIA
FIA Awards 2025
© FIA
FIA Awards 2025
© FIA
FIA Awards 2025
© FIA
Latvala praised both the depth and the spirit within his line-up.
“It’s been a fantastic season,” he said. “To have such a team, winning so many events and finishing one-two-three in the championship is something special. We believe in free fight – the battle happens on the stages, not in the service park. They’re gentlemen, they know where the limits are, and that made it quite easy to manage.”
Championship runners-up Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin were also recognised on the night, collecting their trophies after another consistent campaign, while Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen were honoured for finishing third overall. Halttunen accepted the award in Rovanperä’s absence.
Beyond the championships, the FIA World Rally Championship’s growing global footprint was underlined as ueno Rally del Paraguay was named WRC Event of the Year, with Paraguayan president Santiago Peña Gómez present to receive the award on behalf of the event.
