The 2025 Delfi Rally Estonia, the eighth round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), delivered a weekend full of excitement, surprises, and an unforgettable debut win for Oliver Solberg. Returning to Rally1 for the first time since 2022, Solberg stunned fans and competitors by winning his very first rally in the top class, driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1.
A Strong Start Sets the Stage
The action began Thursday morning with the shakedown stage, where Kalle Rovanperä clocked the fastest time of 1:56.3, followed by Takamoto Katsuta (+0.9) and Thierry Neuville (+1.0). That evening’s short opening stage, VISIT ESTONIA Tartu vald 1 (1.48km), saw Neuville take the early lead after opting not to carry a spare wheel to save weight. His strategy paid off as he posted the best time (1:42.9), with Elfyn Evans and Ott Tänak just behind.
Solberg Dominates from Friday Onward
Friday marked the true beginning of Solberg’s incredible rally. He called it the best day of his life, and for good reason. From the first stage of the day, he set a blistering pace that surprised even the most seasoned drivers. Solberg won two out of the four morning stages, while local favorite Tänak took the other two. The afternoon loop saw wins by Adrien Fourmaux, Solberg again, and Neuville. By the end of the day, Solberg was leading with a total time of 1:06:33.4. Tänak was second (+12.4), followed closely by Neuville (+14.2).
Saturday: Holding the Lead
Saturday brought nine more stages, and Solberg kept up his impressive form, extending his lead. The most intense fight of the day was between teammates Tänak and Neuville for second place. Tänak, who began the day in second, lost time after a small mistake on the first stage of the day. Neuville moved ahead, but the pair kept swapping places throughout the day, six times in total, before Tänak secured second in stage SS14. By day’s end, the standings remained unchanged at the top: Solberg in first (2:08:05.4), Tänak second (+21.1), and Neuville third (+25.1).
Sunday Seals the Deal
Only three stages stood between Solberg and a historic debut win. With just 60 kilometers to go, he stayed focused and won two of the three stages. Meanwhile, Neuville’s battle with Tänak came to a disappointing end when he received a 10-second penalty for a false start. Neuville criticised the inconsistency in the start procedure, calling the penalty “super unfair.”
During the final Power Stage, everyone pushed to the limit to gain extra points. Rovanperä came out on top, followed by Tänak, Solberg, Neuville, and Evans.
Solberg, who had taken the rally lead early Friday morning, never looked back. He made history by becoming the first driver in recent memory to win their debut rally in the WRC1 category.
Constructors and Championship Impact
Despite Solberg’s outstanding performance, Toyota will not benefit from his result in the Constructors’ Championship. The team had registered Rovanperä, Evans, and Katsuta as their official drivers, and unfortunately, Katsuta retired before the Power Stage.
It was another tough weekend for Elfyn Evans, who has been struggling on gravel surfaces as the championship leader. As the road opener for four consecutive gravel rallies, Evans has lost valuable time and now Tänak leads the Championship by just one point. However, with more gravel rounds ahead, this change in standings could work in his favor.
WRC2 Victory for Robert Virves
There was also cause for celebration in WRC2, where Estonian driver Robert Virves claimed his first-ever WRC2 win at his home event. Despite a late time penalty, he led from start to finish, delighting local fans with a strong and consistent drive.
Final Overall Standings
🥇 Oliver Solberg & Elliott Edmondson – 2:36:35.1
🥈 Ott Tänak & Martin Järveoja – +25.2
🥉 Thierry Neuville & Martijn Wydaeghe – +48.3
Final Standings – WRC2
🥇 Robert Virves & Jakko Viilo – 2:45:18.5
🥈 Georg Linnamae & James Morgan – +18.4
🥉 Roope Korhonen & Anssi Viinikka – +49.4
Overall Championship Standings after Estonia (rd.8)
