TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) returned to the top of the podium at Rally Estonia, powered by a sensational debut performance from Oliver Solberg. Manning the No. 99 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 alongside co-driver Elliott Edmondson, Solberg claimed his maiden WRC victory, which also marks Toyota’s 100th win in the history of the FIA World Rally Championship. The team’s efforts have also helped Toyota retain its position at the top of the manufacturers’ standings, holding a 52-point lead as the 2025 season passes the halfway mark.
Akio Toyoda, TGR-WRT Chairman, commented: “Oliver, Elliott, congratulations on your victory! I’ve heard from the team that Juha has been giving Oliver various pieces of advice as it was his first time to compete with the GR YARIS Rally1. I am very grateful to Juha. The next rally is our home rally. We will put on the best performance for the people of Jyväskylä who always support us. I’m counting on everyone in the team!”
Rally Estonia marked a career-defining debut for 23-year-old Solberg, who was handed the opportunity to drive the No. 99 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 alongside co-driver Edmondson. After two days of testing in Finland, he quickly found his rhythm on Estonia’s high-speed gravel roads.
Solberg made an immediate impact, winning his first career stage in the opening forest tests to take the rally lead. Two more stage wins later that day gave him a 12.4-second advantage. Despite a reduced road position advantage, Solberg maintained his momentum, adding four more stage wins to extend his lead to 21.1 seconds.
Rainfall added to the challenge in the final leg, but Solberg remained composed, securing two more stage wins to bring his total to nine. A measured Power Stage run, where he posted the third-fastest time, sealed a landmark 25.2-second victory and capped one of the most impressive performances in recent WRC memory. With this result, he becomes the third-youngest driver to win a WRC round and the 16th to do so in a Toyota.
Over the years, Toyota has been participating in many different forms of motorsports, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship (WEC), and the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. Toyota’s participation in these events was overseen by separate entities within the company until April 2015, when Toyota established TGR, to consolidate all of its motorsports activities under one in-house brand. Representing Toyota’s belief that ‘the roads build the people, and the people build the cars,’ TGR highlights the role of motorsports as a fundamental pillar of Toyota’s commitment to making ‘ever-better’ cars. Harnessing years of experience gained under the extreme conditions of various motorsports events, TGR aims to forge new technologies and solutions that bring the freedom, adventure, and joy of driving to everyone.
Round 9 of the 2025 FIA WRC is Rally Finland (July 31-August 3), the fastest rally on the calendar, held on smooth gravel roads featuring numerous jumps. The event is a home rally for TGR-WRT, with its team headquarters located near the service park in Jyväskylä.
Position: 1st
Time: 2 hours, 36 minutes, and 35.1 seconds
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