Central European Rally (16–19 October) marked an emotional conclusion for the FIA Rally Star programme – the global talent detection programme launched in 2021 to identify and support the next generation of rally talent. The event also brought the curtain down on the 2025 FIA Junior WRC season, serving as the final double-points round in the championship fight.

Championship leader Taylor Gill and co-driver Daniel Brkic arrived in Central Europe in strong form, having finished on the podium at every Junior WRC round of the season. Calm but focused before the start, Gill described himself as “relaxed and confident”, aware that the fast, technical Tarmac roads would present “a different kind of challenge”.

From the opening stage, the pair were firmly in contention, taking second place in SS1 by just 0.5 seconds behind championship rival Mille Johansson. But on the repeat run disaster struck, when a rear-right puncture cost the pair more than a minute and dropped them down the order, handing Johansson the lead.

Undeterred, Gill and Brkic fought back with trademark determination, taking a stage win on SS3, narrowly missing another on SS4, and dominating SS5 by more than 17 seconds. By Saturday evening the pair had recovered to second overall, only 1.7 seconds behind Johansson, setting up a tense finale.

For Max Smart, the weekend ended prematurely. The young South African struck a hidden rock on Saturday’s final test, breaking a steering arm and forcing his retirement. It was a bitter end to his final outing as an FIA Rally Star driver after a season of progress and growth.

Sunday’s decisive leg delivered more drama. The opening stage was cancelled, meaning the title fight would hinge on the remaining three stages. Gill and Brkic pushed hard but a costly spin on SS16 lost the pair valuable time, leaving them seven seconds adrift of Championship rival Johansson. On the final stage of their FIA Rally Star careers they delivered a soild drive, clawing back six seconds in a heroic attempt to claim the Junior WRC Crown, but ultimately it wasn’t enough, Johansson sealed the title by 1.6 seconds, taking the Junior WRC crown and the coveted WRC2 prize drive. Though the championship slipped away, Gill’s record – five podiums in five starts – underlined his status as one of rallying’s most exciting young prospects.

With the 2025 Junior WRC season complete, the FIA Rally Star programme now concludes its journey. In less than five years, the global talent detection programme has discovered and developed a new generation of drivers who began as novices and are now capable of fighting for international titles.

Since its inception, the FIA Rally Star programme has offered young competitors from across the globe the chance to compete internationally, guided by dedicated mentors and technical partners. Its success includes back-to-back title challenges, a Junior WRC championship in 2024, and another that came within two seconds in 2025. While the programme concludes, its legacy will continue to shape rallying’s future, with work already under way to ensure the next wave of driver development programmes continues to deliver opportunities for young up and coming drivers across the globe.

FIA Rally Star Project Leader Jérôme Roussel added: “I want to extend my congratulations to Mille Johansson, who put together a superb season and proved a fierce rival for Taylor. While there’s always disappointment in losing a title fight by such a small margin, I couldn’t be prouder of Taylor and Daniel – not just here, but throughout the entire campaign.

“Taylor has demonstrated speed, composure and consistency all year, excelling on gravel and showing this week how competitive he can be on Tarmac. It was an almost flawless performance and he proved beyond doubt that he deserves further opportunities.

“For Max, this event was about development. He has fewer competitive miles on Tarmac, and that brings challenges, but over the past three years he’s shown enormous growth and determination. His potential is clear, and I hope he continues to build on what he’s achieved.

“We now reach the end of a journey that began in 2021. In that time, we have detected and nurtured an entirely new generation of WRC talent. To have taken the Junior WRC title in 2024 and come within two seconds of repeating that success in 2025 is a powerful testament to what this programme has achieved. Every podium of the 2024 and 2025 Junior WRC events featured at least one FIA Rally Star crew, a fact that also makes me very proud.

“I want to thank all our partners, especially M-Sport Poland, for their invaluable collaboration, and everyone who has supported the project since its inception. A particular thank-you to Nicolas Klinger for his guidance and mentoring of our drivers and co-drivers, and to Bryan To, whose coordination and commitment to this programme have been instrumental. What we built together will continue to shape the sport’s future.”

Taylor Gill commented: “This was my fifth podium in as many starts this year, which is something to be proud of. To come so close to the title is obviously disappointing, but it’s been an incredible season and I’m proud of what we’ve achieved. The FIA Rally Star programme has given me the best three years of my life and the foundation to build a career in the World Rally Championship. With this chapter closing, I’m focused on the next step - moving into Rally2 machinery in 2026. I feel ready, mentally and physically, and I can’t wait to see what comes next.”

Max Smart said: “Ending like this wasn’t how I pictured my last FIA Rally Star event, but the past three years have changed my life. I’ve learned more than I could have imagined and built relationships that will last a lifetime. Competing in the Junior WRC and going up against the best young drivers in the world has been a privilege. My next goal is to race in the 2026 ERC in Rally3, possibly alongside a British Rally Championship campaign, with the long-term dream of returning to the Junior WRC and fighting for that WRC2 prize drive.”