Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team have their eyes on the prize as they travel to the Rally del Paraguay beginning later today for round 11 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship – the first of two back-to-back challenges on South American gravel.
With strong results on the two most recent events on the high-speed stages of Estonia and Finland, TGR-WRT extended their lead of the manufacturers’ championship to 174 points and will have their first opportunity to clinch a sixth successive crown in Paraguay if they can extend their advantage by at least six more points.
The team also continue to have all five of its drivers occupying the top five places in the championship standings. Elfyn Evans remains the championship leader with an increased advantage of 30 points, with his nearest challenger is now Sami Pajari after he achieved his first two WRC victories back-to-back in Estonia and Finland.
Takamoto Katsuta and Oliver Solberg also remain in contention, 41 and 45 points from the lead respectively. Nine-time and reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier is now 62 points from the lead after an accident in Finland but ready to make a welcome return to action with regular co-driver Vincent Landais in Paraguay, where they won the country’s inaugural WRC event in 2025.
TGR WRC Challenge Program driver Yuki Yamamoto continues his WRC2 campaign, competing in his first rallies in South America. The GR Yaris Rally2 car is the most popular car in the Paraguay field, with 12 entries. Other WRC2 regulars competing include Alejandro Cachón and Gus Greensmith, along with no fewer than nine Paraguayan drivers: Diego Domínguez, Andrea Lafarja, Alejandro Galanti, Gustavo Saba, Fabrizio Galanti, Augusto Bestard, Franco Pappalardo and Miguel María García. Bolivian driver Marco Bulacia also returns to WRC action on his home continent.
On the WRC’s first visit to Paraguay last year, the drivers were greeted by passionate fans and discovered demanding stages. The fast roads have a red clay surface that provides changeable grip levels, while significant bumps and sharp rocks can also test cars and tyres. The event is based in Encarnación, situated on the banks of the Paraná river and the border with Argentina. It will be followed just two weeks later by Rally Chile.
Following a ceremonial start in Encarnación on Thursday evening, the rally begins with the longest day of competition on Friday with two loops of four stages totalling 95.5 competitive miles. Another two loops of four tests are run on Saturday before a new super special stage in Encarnación rounds out the day. Five stages close out the rally on Sunday.
Welshman Elfyn Evans said, “Our first time competing in Paraguay last year proved far more challenging than everyone anticipated. On paper the stages looked quite straightforward with many long straights and junctions, but the rally was made far more difficult by the polished clay surface and the changing grip levels.
“Then, when it rained on the final morning, there was almost no grip available at all. In our position running first on the road on these gravel rallies, some rain can help to level the playing field, but it can also turn quickly into a lottery when the grip is so low. Like always, we’ll just have to do our best in whatever conditions we face when the rally begins.”
