Lancia Corse HF returns to Paraguay for another gravel challenge with Gryazin and Rossel
The FIA World Rally Championship returns to South America for round eleven of the season with Ueno Rally del Paraguay, taking place from 27 to 30 August in the Itapúa region of southern Paraguay. Following its WRC debut in 2025, the Paraguayan event returns for its second appearance on the world championship calendar, establishing itself as one of the championship’s most distinctive new additions. The city of Encarnación, located on the banks of the Paraná River close to the Argentine border, will once again provide the event’s headquarters.
Representing Lancia Corse HF will be Nikolay Gryazin – Konstantin Aleksandrov and Yohan Rossel – Arnaud Dunand, both crews competing in the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. Their return to Paraguay provides an important opportunity to build on their experience of the event following its first appearance at world championship level last year.
In 2025, Rossel finished second in WRC2, while Gryazin secured third place in the category, underlining the competitiveness of both crews on the demanding Itapúa gravel. Twelve months on, Gryazin sits sixth in the WRC2 standings with 56 points, while Rossel is seventh on 52 points. Both crews will therefore be targeting valuable points as the championship enters its decisive stages.
The Teams’ Championship is equally important, with Lancia Corse HF currently second on 195 points and firmly in contention for the title. With three further rounds remaining after Paraguay, every point will become increasingly important in the battle for championship honours.
Rally del Paraguay features 22 special stages covering 357.64 competitive kilometres, all run on gravel. The event takes place across the Itapúa region, combining fast, flowing roads with more technical sections and a predominantly soft gravel surface that can change dramatically throughout the weekend. As the cars cut into the road, deep ruts can develop quickly, significantly altering grip levels between the first and second passes.
Dust will be another factor in dry conditions, while rainfall could rapidly transform the character of the stages and increase the level of difficulty considerably. The ability to adapt the car set-up, tyre choices and driving style to constantly changing conditions will therefore be crucial.
Competitive action gets underway on Friday with eight special stages and approximately 153 competitive kilometres, making it the longest day of the rally. Saturday features nine stages covering around 135 kilometres, while Sunday’s finale comprises five stages and 68 kilometres, bringing round eleven of the FIA WRC to a close.
Rally del Paraguay therefore represents another important chapter in the development journey of the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. Having faced a wide variety of challenging surfaces throughout its first WRC season, Lancia Corse HF returns to gravel with the aim of putting its accumulated experience to work and continuing the car’s development in highly specific conditions.
The project’s first year in the FIA World Rally Championship has already provided Lancia Corse HF with valuable experience and encouraging results, with the team firmly established at the front of the WRC2 Teams’ Championship and the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale already proving capable of delivering victories during the season. Paraguay will provide another opportunity to continue that development journey as the championship moves into its decisive phase.
With Gryazin and Rossel leading the charge, Lancia Corse HF heads to one of the key events of the second half of the season aiming to build on its progress on gravel and secure valuable points for both the Teams’ Championship and its crews’ individual title ambitions.
Didier Clément – Team Principal, Lancia Corse HF
“We discovered Rally Paraguay last year, and we were all pleasantly surprised by the quality of its organization. It is a gravel rally with a unique character, featuring an unusual route and extremely demanding conditions. Well prepared for the challenge, our crews, Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov, along with Yohan Rossel and Arnaud Dunand, have just completed a productive test session on roads similar to those they will face during the rally and are now ready to give it their all. The objectives are clear: to demonstrate the performance and speed of our Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale while scoring valuable points in our fight for the World Teams’ Championship title. Every result will also be crucial for Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov, who remain in contention for a place on the final podium and could still challenge for the WRC2 Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ World Championship titles. The appointment is set for Friday’s opening stages.”
