Jaspar Vaher delivered a dominant performance at Rally Ciudad de Pozoblanco 2026 by securing his first overall rally victory with an impressive display as part of the Toyota Gazoo Racing development programme.
The 19-year-old Estonian driver and co-driver Rait Jansen dominated the second round of the Spanish gravel championship by winning every special stage throughout the event. The result highlighted Vaher’s rapid progress within Toyota’s junior structure this season.
The victory carried additional significance as Vaher outperformed all of Toyota’s Japanese young driver prospects competing in the WRC Challenge programme. He also became the first non-Japanese driver to join Toyota’s development programme this season.
Technically, Vaher’s performance demonstrated excellent adaptation to the abrasive and highly technical gravel conditions in Spain. His consistent pace across every stage became the key factor behind the commanding victory.
Takumi Matsushita and co-driver Pekka Kelander finished second overall, while Shotaro Goto and Jussi Lindberg completed the podium in third place.
Meanwhile, Rio Ogata and Mikael Korhonen climbed to fourth overall while also claiming victory in the Rally3 category.
Another leading contender, Kanta Yanaguida, had been fighting near the front before two punctures destroyed his hopes of victory alongside co-driver Ville Mannisenmaki.
The 2026 season is becoming an important development phase for Vaher in Toyota Rally2 machinery. After retiring from Rally Mikkeli, he bounced back with seventh place at Rally Tunturi before finishing second at Rally Riihimaki.
His Riihimaki performance had already attracted attention within the Finnish rally paddock, while the dominant victory in Spain has now further strengthened his reputation as one of Europe’s most promising young rally prospects.
Estonia is now hoping Vaher can eventually follow in the footsteps of Ott Tanak and become the country’s next major world rally star.
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