The WRC's closest title fight in recent memory goes to a brand-new Middle Eastern finale as Elfyn Evans, Sébastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanperä prepare for a decisive week in Saudi Arabia.

Toyota Gazoo Racing wrapped up the manufacturers' title at Central European Rally, but the drivers' and co-drivers' championships remain unresolved as Rally Saudi Arabia hosts the 14th and final round of the 2025 season.

Evans tops the standings by three points from Ogier after a season built on relentless scoring, while Rovanperä sits a further 21 adrift in what will be his final appearance before stepping back from full-time WRC competition. With all three starting from zero experience on Saudi Arabia's stages, the championship picture remains finely balanced.

Rally Saudi Arabia introduces almost 320km of new gravel stages north of Jeddah. Fast, open sections mix with volcanic rock and pockets of softer sand, creating a wide variety of surfaces across the weekend.

Evans carries the advantage into the finale after scoring on every round this year. Four consecutive second places have kept the Welshman in control during the European autumn and he now stands on the brink of a maiden world title.

"We go to Saudi Arabia knowing that everything is still to play for and very open in the championship," he said. "Nobody really knows what to expect from this event - it's basically a clean sheet for all of us. We just have to arrive there, focus on doing the best rally we can, and see what comes."

Ogier, however, remains well within reach of a record-equalling ninth crown. The Frenchman has turned a partial campaign into a full-scale title challenge with six victories from 10 starts, including a decisive win in Japan that trimmed Evans' margin to almost nothing.

"It was an intense battle with Elfyn for the win at Rally Japan," he said. "Nobody has much experience of what the stages are like there, so there can be the potential for a lot of surprises. There could be rough sections with a lot of rocks around, but hopefully the conditions are fair for all of us, and may the best man win."

Two-time champion Rovanperä's route to the title is narrower but not extinguished. Wins in the Canary Islands, Finland and Central Europe show his outright speed, although retirements and low scores earlier in the year left him playing catch-up. The Finn makes his final appearance before stepping back from full-time WRC competition.

"The championship is not really in our hands anymore, but we still have a chance," he said. "The stages look to be quite tricky with a lot of rocks, so there could be a fairly big chance of something happening for any of the drivers. Whatever happens, hopefully we can make it a good last rally to finish this chapter in a nice way."

The Rally1 field is fully subscribed for the finale. Toyota lines up Evans, Ogier and Rovanperä alongside Takamoto Katsuta and Japan podium finisher Sami Pajari. Hyundai Motorsport brings outgoing champion Thierry Neuville, Ott Tänak and Adrien Fourmaux, while M-Sport Ford fields four Puma Rally1 cars for Josh McErlean, Grégoire Munster, Mārtiņš Sesks and 20-time Middle East Rally Champion Nasser Al-Attiyah.

The event begins with a super special in Jeddah on Wednesday evening, followed by three days of gravel stages in the surrounding desert. The rally winner - and the 2025 WRC champion - will be crowned on Saturday afternoon after 17 tests covering 319.64km.