Most recent winner · Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (2026)
First held
2025
Surface
Red-earth gravel roads
Most recent winner
Sami Pajari Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 (2026)
South American red earthTyre managementFirst WRC appearance in 2025
About the rally
Rally del Paraguay first entered the WRC in 2025, based in Encarnación in the southern department of Itapúa. It was a new host country, not the starting point of the WRC’s return to South America.
Red soil, clay and exposed stones create variable grip, with bumps, compressions and tyre wear the main challenges. The official 2026 event card planned 22 stages and 358.99 kilometres.
Ogier won the inaugural edition in 2025. Pajari won the second edition, which concluded on 2026-8-30, with Paddon second and Fourmaux third. The two editions’ results are recorded separately.
Rally history
Inaugural winner in 2025: Ogier won in 3h 00m 06.6s, recovering after tyre damage on Friday’s SS2. It was his 65th WRC victory and Toyota’s 102nd, matching Citroën.
The inaugural podium: Evans was second, 26.2 seconds behind the winner, and Neuville third at 27.2. Tänak finished fourth and Rovanperä fifth.
The 2026 route: The second edition was based in Encarnación, with the official event card planning 22 stages and 358.99 kilometres. Route data is recorded separately from the 2025 results.
The latest edition in 2026: Pajari won in 3h 13m 28.5s, beating Paddon by 25.8 seconds and completing consecutive victories in Estonia, Finland and Paraguay.
Rally characteristics
Image: Motorsport.com
Red earth and stones: Hidden stones, bumps and compressions in the clay-like surface increase tyre wear, making line choice and risk control important to results.
Jumps and compressions: Paraguay’s characteristic jump combinations test suspension and landing attitude severely, with post-rain ruts adding to the difficulty.
Changing weather: Heat and the risk of heavy rain coexisted during the 2026 event. Mud changed grip conditions, and Toyota fitted intake snorkels to its cars during the rally.
Spectator culture: Super special stages and routes through farms create numerous viewing points, while South American fans’ enthusiasm gives the new round a distinctive atmosphere.
2025 WRC Rally del Paraguay · Data review
2025-8-31, Rally del Paraguay concluded in Encarnación on its WRC calendar debut. Sébastien Ogier recorded 3h 00m 06.6s to win. After tyre damage on Friday’s SS2 left him 36 seconds behind the lead, he recovered from eighth to second and inherited the lead when Rovanperä lost tyre pressure on Saturday. His final winning margin was 26.2 seconds.
2025 overall results · Top five
Position
Driver
Car
Total time / gap to winner
1
Sébastien Ogier
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
3:00:06.6
2
Elfyn Evans
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+26.2 s
3
Thierry Neuville
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
+27.2 s
4
Ott Tänak
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
+30.6 s
5
Kalle Rovanperä
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+2:05.2
Race highlights
Points after the inaugural event: Elfyn Evans had 198 points, Kalle Rovanperä 191 and Ogier 189, respectively 7 and 9 points behind Evans. Ogier took his 65th WRC victory, while Toyota reached 102 manufacturer wins, matching Citroën. The inaugural winner, the round’s overall results and annual championship points are three separate datasets.
Rain changes the podium on the final day: Sunday rain rapidly changed grip on the red-earth roads. Evans moved into second on the final stage, while Thierry Neuville was third, 27.2 seconds behind the winner. Ott Tänak finished fourth and Rovanperä fifth. Stones and bumps beneath the red soil affected tyres and altered how hard drivers could push.
Latest edition: 2026 results
Concluded on 2026-8-30: Sami Pajari won the second Paraguayan WRC round. He and Marko Salminen finished in 3h 13m 28.5s, ahead of Hayden Paddon by 25.8 seconds and Adrien Fourmaux by 40.0, completing consecutive victories in Estonia, Finland and Paraguay. A water leak on the first day had dropped him to seventh, but after repairs he led by Friday’s finish. Evans ultimately finished fourth, 45.1 seconds behind the winner.
Photo: Motorsport.com
Position
Driver
Car
Total time / gap to winner
1
Sami Pajari
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
3:13:28.5
2
Hayden Paddon
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
+25.8 s
3
Adrien Fourmaux
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
+40.0 s
4
Elfyn Evans
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+45.1 s
5
Oliver Solberg
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
+2:57.0
Event facts at a glance
Item
Data
Location
Encarnación, Itapúa, Paraguay
2026 planned stages
22 stages (2026)
2026 planned stage distance
358.99 km
Surface type
Red-earth gravel roads
First held
2025
Inaugural winner
Sébastien Ogier (Toyota)
Longest stage
Yerbatera · 33.88 kilometres (two passes in 2026)
Power Stage
Encarnación · 10.26 kilometres (2026 finale)
Paraguay became a new WRC host country in 2025; that does not mean the championship only returned to South America that year. The inaugural 2025 results and the latest 2026 results are listed separately. The event card’s 22 stages and 358.99 kilometres are planned 2026 data, not a distance common to both editions.
Information updated: 2026-10-3
Rally data
Stages22 (planned)
Total stage distance358.99 km (planned)
SurfaceRed-earth gravel roads
Most recent winnerSami PajariToyota GR Yaris Rally1 (2026)
