WRC Title Contenders Brace for “Lottery” Showdown in Saudi Arabia
The World Rally Championship’s 2025 season is preparing for one of its most unpredictable finishes in decades. Drivers Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier, and Kalle Rovanperä are all vying for the title and head into an unknown territory in Saudi Arabia, as there is only a gap of three points between Evans and Ogier. Not only will it be a first for Saudi Arabia as the host country for the final round of the WRC, but the courses in Saudi Arabia will also feature the most extreme course conditions seen in the WRC. The new landscape of the mountains, volcanic regions, and vast areas of desert will prove to be extremely challenging and dangerous to both the drivers and their vehicles. The different types of gravel roads will also vary tremendously.
Some of the roads will have relatively smooth and fast sections on a hard base, while others will be made up of sandy areas strewn with sharp rocks, which will make it very easy for a driver to see their championship hopes disappear in a matter of seconds. Bedrock (the solid foundation of the Earth’s surface) breaking through the surface of the ground creates an additional level of excitement, as it is likely that at least one competitor will suffer from a flat tire or mechanical failure due to a punctured tire.
Although speed is important, in the case of the Wadi Almatwi stage, it may prove to be just as important for teams to survive as to simply be the fastest. The Friday stage was previously forecasted as a stage too punishing for drivers and, as a result, has already been shortened by three kilometers. While the overall challenge is still one of the toughest in the world during this season, risk management will be imperative to allow teams to successfully adapt to the unpredictable terrain.
Drivers must balance their vehicles, choose the best tires, and drive their vehicles in such a way as to minimize their exposure to risk, all while maintaining the requisite speed. As championship leader Elfyn Evans said, “Of course the title may be determined by who has the least amount of problems, but it will be interesting to see how everything plays out.” With all of the championship contenders, Toyota teammates Evans, Ogier, and Rovanperä, all battling it out, the finish to the 2025 Championship may well be the most dramatic finish, as luck may play as important a role as skill. In a rally where anything is possible, the Champion may be the driver who survives the chaos the most unscathed.
