Rovanpera’s Rally Ruined by Puncture, Ogier Leads Paraguay

WRC, Sportrik Media - Kalle Rovanpera suffered a devastating blow at the 2025 Paraguay Rally after a tire puncture on stage 14 (SS14), Artigas 2, caused him to plummet from first to sixth place. Meanwhile, Sebastien Ogier seized the lead for Toyota.

Tire Puncture Derails Rovanpera’s Charge

During SS14, the 22.73-km Artigas 2 stage, Rovanpera sustained a tire puncture early in the run. The decision to continue without immediately changing the tire proved costly, resulting in a loss of nearly 2 minutes and 40 seconds to Ogier’s stage-winning time. “I have no idea where the puncture came from. We didn’t hit anything hard. Jonne said we could finish the stage, but that was clearly the wrong call,” Rovanpera admitted at the stage end.

This setback dropped Rovanpera 2 minutes 23.6 seconds behind the leader, effectively ending his victory hopes. Ogier capitalized on the situation, taking the rally lead with a 9.2-second advantage over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux.

Shifts in the Leaderboard

Rovanpera’s misfortune reshaped the rally’s top order. Elfyn Evans (Toyota) climbed to third, trailing Ogier by 34.6 seconds, followed by Ott Tanak (Hyundai) in fourth, 40.7 seconds off the lead. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) holds fifth, just 2 seconds behind Tanak.

Indonesian driver Sami Pajari (Toyota) also struggled, posting the seventh-fastest time on SS14 and sitting seventh overall, 3 minutes 10.6 seconds behind Ogier. In WRC2, Nikolai Grjazin (Skoda) suffered a puncture, while Robert Virves (Skoda) remains in eighth.

Paraguay’s fast and unforgiving roads have taken a toll on tires, with Rovanpera and Grjazin among those affected. Local driver Fabrizio Zaldivar also faced drama, going off the road but managing to continue. These incidents underscore the critical role of tire management and quick decision-making in the rally’s demanding conditions.

With one stage remaining on Saturday and four on Sunday, including the Mision Jesuitica Trinidad 2 Power Stage, the competition remains open. Ogier’s experience positions him well to maintain his lead, while Fourmaux and Evans aim to close the gap.

Though Rovanpera’s chances of winning are gone, he will focus on salvaging points in the Power Stage. Ogier, meanwhile, is well-placed to strengthen his bid for a ninth world title. Sportrik’s analysis highlights Ogier’s resilience under pressure, with the tight midfield battle between Evans, Tanak, and Neuville promising further excitement.

The 2025 Paraguay Rally continues to showcase the unpredictable nature of WRC, where a single moment can redefine the race. The final day’s challenging stages will test the drivers’ endurance and strategy to the limit.