The 2025 edition of Rally Finland delivered exactly what it promised: flat-out speed, huge jumps, and passionate fans lining the legendary gravel roads. The fastest event on the calendar once again proved to be a true test of confidence and commitment, and the FIA Rally Star drivers rose to the challenge.

Australia’s Taylor Gill extended his stunning Junior WRC campaign with a fourth consecutive podium, finishing second overall and strengthening his lead in the championship heading into the final round, while South Africa’s Max Smart gained valuable experience putting together a consistent and clean drive. In WRC2, Estonia’s Romet Jürgenson delivered a solid sixth place result against world-class opposition in what marked his final outing with the FIA Rally Star program.

With the Junior WRC title set to be decided at the Central European Rally, and Romet’s next chapter about to begin, Rally Finland proved both a breakthrough and a turning point for the FIA Rally Star program.

Gill Strengthens Championship Lead After Another Measured Drive
Taylor Gill and co-driver Daniel Brkic continued their remarkable run of form in the Junior WRC, finishing second overall and keeping their perfect podium record intact. A puncture on Saturday afternoon briefly derailed their push for victory, but the Australian duo responded with a flat-out charge on Sunday to recover lost time and points.

“We finished second in Junior WRC, not a bad result, but definitely a weekend of what could’ve been,” said Gill. “That puncture hurt, but we reset overnight and went absolutely flat-out on Sunday. Sometimes in rallying, that’s just what you’ve got to do.”

Gill’s result sees him maintain his lead in the Junior WRC standings heading into the season finale. With four podiums from four starts, including two victories, and one dropped score still in hand, the title race is now poised for a dramatic conclusion at the double-points round at the Central European Rally.

“Hopefully nothing stops the podium streak, but it’s rallying, anything can happen,” Gill added. “It’s going to be winner-takes-all, and we’ll do everything we can to prepare properly. If we can find the budget, for a test or warm-up rally, that would be ideal.”
 
Jürgenson Impresses in Final FIA Rally Star Start
Competing in the ultra-competitive WRC2 category, Romet Jürgenson and co-driver Siim Oja delivered an outstanding performance to finish sixth overall, a milestone results in only his sixth WRC2 start. The Estonian’s pace and precision stood out throughout the weekend, most notably on the iconic Ouninpohja stage, where he finished just 2.4 seconds off multiple WRC winner Jari-Matti Latvala.

Rally Finland also marked the final FIA Rally Star event for Jürgenson, with the 2024 Junior WRC Champion, now continuing his career with M-Sport support in the British Rally Championship.

FIA Rally Star Project Leader Jérôme Roussel added “This is a milestone moment, “It’s the end of our official support, but not the end of our commitment. Romet’s development curve with Rally2 machinery has been unique, and he’s shown he belongs in WRC2.”

Smart Completes Finland Cleanly, Gaining Valuable Experience
Max Smart and co-driver Malcolm Read delivered a measured and mistake-free drive to finish eighth in Junior WRC, prioritising consistency over outright pace. On one of the most demanding events of the year, the South African crew stayed out of trouble, built confidence stage by stage, and gained crucial experience that will support Smart’s continued development within the program.

FIA Rally Star Project Leader Jérôme Roussel added: “Once again, our FIA Rally Star crews demonstrated the maturity, discipline, and determination that this program is designed to develop. Taylor, Romet, and Max each faced unique challenges in Finland, and all three delivered performances that reflect their continued growth as young rally drivers.

Taylor and Dan were outstanding. After the puncture on Saturday, their response was exceptional, reducing a 30-second gap to just eight across two runs of Ouninpohja, a remarkable show of their commitment and speed.  They secured another second place, five stage wins, and strengthened their position at the top of the Junior WRC standings. With four podiums from four starts, they’ve been the most consistent crew in the championship.

Romet’s drive in WRC2 was equally impressive. To finish just 2.4 seconds off Jari-Matti Latvala in Ouninpohja, in only his sixth WRC2 start, is extraordinary. He didn’t put a foot wrong all weekend, gave strong technical feedback, and showed that he belongs at this level. This marks the conclusion of his FIA Rally Star competition program, but not the end of our support. We will continue to help open doors for him because his progress in Rally2 has been exceptional and he fully deserves to continue this path.

Max delivered a consistent and clean drive, stayed out of trouble, and gained valuable experience on one of the most demanding rallies of the season."

With Rally Finland over, Romet now turns his attention to the British Rally Championship, while Taylor and Max look to the Junior WRC finale at the Central European Rally, and with double points on offer it’s anyone’s game as to who takes victory.