Ogier wins Rally Japan and shrinks Evans' championship lead

VIDEO SHOWS: HIGHLIGHTS OF RALLY JAPAN WON BY SEBASTIEN OGIER RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: LAKE MIKAWAKO, JAPAN (NOVEMBER 9, 2025) (WRC PROMOTER GMBH – See restrictions before use) 1. VARIOUS SCENIC SHOTS  2. VARIOUS OF SEBASTIEN OGIER OF TOYOTA GAZOO RACING  3. TOYOTA GAZOO RACING TEAM CLAPPING AND CELEBRATING OGIER'S WIN  4. OGIER JUMPING ON HIS CAR AND CELEBRATING THE WIN  5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SEBASTIEN OGIER SAYING:       "That's the way I like it. Well, I mean, obviously, perfect result. It's been a challenging weekend because of this rain today. You know, nothing was certain. It was the start of a new rally this morning, but big setup change, and the car very quickly felt good. We didn't have to do anything, so well done, team. It's amazing to count on that. And yeah, actually, when there was not too much water on the ride, we could enjoy. Now, let's go to the next one."       INTERVIEWER ASKING:       "Elfyn (Evans) leads by three points. How hungry are you for that ninth title?"        SEBASTIEN OGIER SAYING:        "Yeah, it's good. That's a perfect weekend for us to come back so close. And let's hope the last one is not a lottery." 6. VARIOUS OF ELFYN EVANS OF TOYOTA GAZOO RACING  7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELFYN EVANS SAYING:      "Yeah well, I was going to say it's been fun, but that's a bit of a lie about today. So, yeah, I mean, overall, it's been a fun weekend, obviously, to try and fight with Seb (Ogier). Today has been very difficult to do that, and conditions have been very difficult. He's driven very, very well. So, yeah, not easy, but we tried." 8. VARIOUS OF SAMI PAJARI OF TOYOTA GAZOO RACING  9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) SAMI PAJARI SAYING:       "Yeah, it's a really, really cool feeling. I think it was already a couple of times quite close. And yeah, it's a really, really special feeling to get the first podium and again in Japan. So yeah, really, really super feeling. And big thanks to all the team. Arigato gozaimasu again, once again. Yeah, super, super feeling, and let's hope that the other two will also finish, so we can have the top three for Toyota." 10. OGIER AND HIS PARTNER RECEIVING TROPHY  11. CROWD CHEERING  12. OGIER ON PODIUM POSING WITH THE TROPHY  13. VARIOUS OF ALL THE WINNERS PLAYING AROUND WITH CHAMPAGNE  STORY: Toyota's Sebastien Ogier secured victory at Rally Japan after an intense battle with World Rally Championship leader Welshman Elfyn Evans on Sunday (November 9), reducing Evans' championship lead to three points and setting up a decisive showdown in the season finale in Saudi Arabia later this month. Frenchman Ogier, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, claimed his sixth win of the 2025 season by 11.6 seconds over Evans after 20 challenging asphalt stages. Toyota locked out the podium as Sami Pajari achieved his maiden WRC rostrum finish, inheriting third place following Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux's retirement during Sunday's treacherous wet conditions. Ogier's 67th career win tightened the championship race, with Evans leading by just three points. Toyota's Kalle Rovanpera of Finland remains mathematically in contention but sits 24 points behind after finishing sixth in Japan. Rovanpera's title hopes were dented after clipping an armco barrier in Friday's (November 7) stage three, damaging his suspension and losing over four minutes, dropping him to 23rd. Ogier initially took the rally lead in stage two before briefly losing the position to teammate Takamoto Katsuta of Japan by 0.5 seconds. Ogier reclaimed the lead in stage four and ended Friday (November 7) with a 7.9-second advantage over Katsuta, with Evans trailing by 10.2 seconds. Evans mounted a strong challenge on Saturday (November 8), overtaking Katsuta in stage eight and reducing Ogier's lead to just 1.4 seconds after winning two stages. However, Ogier responded in the afternoon, winning three consecutive stages to restore his lead to 6.5 seconds. Hyundai's Fourmaux of France had been in third after Katsuta's rally took a hit in stage 11. The Japanese driver misjudged a chicane entry, damaging his car's power steering. Fourmaux capitalized on Katsuta's misfortune, setting fastest times in stages eight and nine and ending Saturday 23.6 seconds behind Ogier. Fourmaux's podium hopes evaporated on Sunday when heavy rain made conditions hazardous. Battling visibility issues, the Frenchman hit mud, sending his Hyundai off the road and into trees. The incident tore off the passenger door, forcing him to retire and promoting Samari Pajari of Finland to third, giving Toyota the top three places. (Production: Suramya Kaushik)

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