Sébastien Ogier Leads Kalle Rovanperä Overnight at 2025 Central European Rally

WRC, Sportrik Media - Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Sébastien Ogier leads the Central European Rally (CER) 2025 after a brief opening day, with teammate Kalle Rovanperä just 1.6 seconds adrift. The third-to-last round of this year’s World Rally Championship marks a return to tarmac for the first time since April, with Ogier starting first courtesy of his slim two-point championship lead.

Thursday’s leg featured two passes of the Golf und Therme stage, spaced three hours apart. Ogier won the first pass, but Rovanperä edged him by 0.1s on the second. “A clean start,” summed up the eight-time world champion Ogier. “Tomorrow will probably be a lot more challenging. It’s hard to know what’s going to happen with the weather, and the Czech stages are bumpy with old tarmac and dirt, so let’s see.”

Sportrik Media’s in-depth analysis highlights this tight contest reflecting internal Toyota rivalry, with Ogier and Rovanperä pushing each other at the top of the standings. Transitioning to the mixed tarmac and gravel Czech stages will add strategic elements, especially with unpredictable weather forecasts.

Adrien Fourmaux Hampered, But Competitive

Adrien Fourmaux shared second with Rovanperä after SS1 but slipped to 2.3s behind, and 3.9s off the lead, as one of the later runners in fading light. “Well, for sure it’s not really fair that we run the stage in the dark, but it’s part of the game,” commented Fourmaux. “For sure we cannot beat them when it’s dark for us but light for them. It’s OK.”

Additionally, Sami Pajari impressed with fourth place tied with Takamoto Katsuta, while title contender Elfyn Evans trailed 0.4s in sixth. However, Evans received a five-second penalty for clipping a bale on SS1, deemed not following the correct route, dropping him to eighth, 11.0s off the lead.

Ott Tanak sits sixth, still adjusting to the i20 N Rally1 spec last driven since Safari Rally Kenya, but moved ahead of teammate Thierry Neuville by 0.2s on SS2. The pair lie 6.1s and 6.3s behind the leaders, respectively.

The two M-Sport Ford cars of Gregoire Munster and Josh McErlean are ninth and 10th, 15.4s and 25.1s shy of Ogier.

Challenges of Czech Stages and Day Two Prospects

The bumpy Czech stages blending old tarmac and dirt will test drivers tomorrow, particularly with weather variables. Ogier, as overnight leader, faces pressure to hold his slim margin, while Rovanperä and Fourmaux gear up to challenge. Evans’s penalty heightens mid-pack tension, where every second counts for championship points.

Sportrik Media assesses that day two of CER could shape the final WRC 2025 standings, with Ogier aiming to solidify his position ahead of the season finale. Adaptation to mixed conditions will be key, especially for Tanak fine-tuning his car.

Overall CER 2025 Prospects

Overall, CER’s opening day promises a fiercely contested round, with tight battles at the top and surprises from penalties and track conditions. With Ogier and Rovanperä separated by less than four seconds, Toyota’s intra-team fight may decide the title. Sportrik Media anticipates dramatic action on tomorrow’s stages, focusing on weather tactics and adaptability.

Sportrik Media will continue tracking CER developments, providing deep analysis on team strategies and points battles.