Rally del Paraguay: Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew compete as WRC2 overall leaders

› Toksport WRT crew Robert Virves/Jakko Viilo (EST/EST) arrive at the 11th round of the FIA World Rally Championship in Paraguay as WRC2 overall leaders
› For the first time, Toksport WRT is running another Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 for Taylor Gill (AUS)
› Fabrizio Zaldívar (PAR) and Marco Bulacia (BOL) are among the top seeds across a strong South American group of Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 drivers

Mladá Boleslav, 26 August 2026 – Having secured four WRC2 victories this season, Robert Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo arrive at Rally del Paraguay (27–30 August 2026) as the leaders of the driver’s and the co-driver’s standings. The Estonian Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew is targeting another top result on the 22 red-earth-road stages around Encarnación that could prove deciding in the championship chase.

Having won WRC2 on the four occasions they’ve been nominated to score points this season, Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo are in the ascendancy. With victories in Kenya, Greece, Estonia and Finland competing in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 from the Toksport WRT team, the Estonians could significantly extend their points lead in South America. As only the six best results out of seven nominated rallies count towards the final WRC2 standings at the end of the season, Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo are among the favourites for the drivers’ and co-drivers’ titles.

“The past four rallies, where we won WRC2, were like a dream come true. My Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 performs very well on all types of gravel, it doesn't matter whether the roads are rough and twisty or smooth and fast,” says Robert Virves. Last year, a puncture on the penultimate stage cost the pair a WRC2 podium finish in Paraguay, dropping them to fifth place.

More than two thirds of the entry list come from South America. Among them are Paraguayans Fabrizio ‘Fau’ Zaldívar, his brother Miguel and their father Miguel Ángel, all competing in Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 cars. Last year, Fabrizio Zaldívar and Italian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian finished fourth in WRC2 when Rally del Paraguay became a part of the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time.

Marco Bulacia won the event two year ago, when it counted towards the national championship. This time, he returns with Spanish co-driver José Murado in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. In total, eleven WRC2 crews rely on a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Among them are Taylor Gill and co-driver Daniel Brkic from Australia, who are new to Toksport WRT. The Škoda Motorsport customer is currently leading the WRC2 Teams' classification.

The “ueno Rally del Paraguay”, as the event is officially known, begins on Thursday 27 August with a ceremonial start in Encarnación's Sambódromo. This spectacular venue will also house the service park. On Friday, the crews have to cover 153.38 kilometres over eight special stages. Saturday features nine stages totalling 137.34 kilometres. After a short finale on Sunday with just 68.16 stage kilometres, the winners will be celebrated at the historic Molino San José in Encarnación.

Did you know, that…
…since 2025, Paraguay is – after Brazil, Argentina and Chile – the fourth South American country to host a round of the FIA World Rally Championship?
…Rally del Paraguay has been a part of the South American Championship CODASUR for years and has a strong fanbase among the country’s roughly seven million inhabitants?
…the host city Encarnación is separated from Argentina only by the river Paraná?
…therefore, a large number of Argentinian fans are expected to cross the bridge from Posadas to attend the event? Until 2019, Rally Argentina was part of the WRC and boasted one of the biggest audiences on the calendar.
…the special stages feature a combination of fast and technical passages on a surface made of iron-rich red soil?

Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 10 of 14 events)
1 Robert Virves (EST), Škoda, 100 points (from 4 rallies)
2 Roope Korhonen (FIN), Toyota, 79 points (from 6 rallies)
3 Teemu Suninen (FIN), Toyota, 76 points (from 4 rallies)

Standings WRC2/Co-drivers (after 10 of 14 events)
1 Jakko Viilo (EST), Škoda, 100 points (from 4 rallies)
2 Anssi Viinikka (FIN), Toyota, 79 points (from 6 rallies)
3 Janni Hussi (FIN), Toyota, 76 points (from 4 rallies)

Standings WRC2/Teams (after 10 of 14 events)
1 Toksport WRT, Škoda, 235 points
2 Lancia Corse HF, Lancia, 195 points
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, Ford, 45 points
4 2C Junior Team, Lancia, 37 points

2026 FIA World Rally Championship

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