FIA AWARDS 2025 : MORAES MAKES HISTORY, BOULANGER EXTENDS HIS OWN

December 12 ^th 2025 - 22:15 [GMT + 3]

The traditional FIA Awards ceremony took place this Friday, December 12, at the Humo Arena in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile and its President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, honoured the champions of the 2025 season.
Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC) received his first FIA trophy as the 2025 FIA World Rally-Raid Champion. Édouard Boulanger (The Dacia Sandriders) collected his second navigators’ title, while Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC secured its fourth consecutive manufacturers’ crown.

The saying is well known in motorsport: nothing is over until the finish line is crossed. The 2025 season proved it once again, as it took the very last of the 17,047 kilometres to determine the winners. The fifth chapter of the W2RC was spectacular, driven by a field of 122 FIA competitors (+10%) representing 22 nationalities. The success of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship was reflected in the presence of prestigious manufacturers (Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC, The Dacia Sandriders, Ford M-Sport) and in the emergence of new challengers confronting the established champions (see Stats below). The 2026 season will build on the momentum of this unforgettable year, in which each of the five rounds was won by a different driver — a first!

FROM DREAMS TO GLORY

With podium finishes in four of the five rounds, Lucas Moraes relied on consistency to become the first driver to dethrone Nasser Al Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders), after a nail-biting Rallye du Maroc finale. The first Brazilian to be crowned in the W2RC, won the title by only 12 points — the smallest margin in the championship’s history. Navigator Édouard Boulanger capitalised on his consistency and two victories, with Al Attiyah and then Sébastien Loeb, to secure a second crown. Still unbeaten among the manufacturers, Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC also retained its throne. This fourth consecutive title, achieved with a record points tally (463), highlights the efficiency of the Hilux against an ever-sharpening field.

The prestigious FIA Awards ceremony was hosted for the first time in Uzbekistan, in the flourishing city of Tashkent. It welcomed the heroes of the year — and the machines that carried them to these achievements — in grand style. “Dreams of a Champion” was the theme of the ceremony, celebrating the perseverance and sacrifices required to reach the top of the sport and receive FIA honours.

The “Dreams” of Lucas Moraes and Édouard Boulanger became reality as they enjoyed a magical night in the Humo Arena. They walked the blue carpet alongside the other champions of the year, including Lando Norris (Formula 1), Sébastien Ogier (WRC), Johan Kristoffersson (Rallycross), Thibaut Ramaekers (Karting), or James Calado, Alessandro Pier Guidi and Antonio Giovinazzi (WEC). FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem honoured the Brazilian driver and the French navigator in front of 3500 guests and the thousands of people watching the live broadcast.

STATS: THE PROSPERING W2RC TALENT PATHWAY

While Lucas Moraes entered the W2RC with a T1+, more and more young drivers are stepping into the Ultimate class after progressing through the Challenger/SSV categories. Manufacturers are now scouting new talent there, such as Cristina Gutiérrez (The Dacia Sandriders), Mitch Guthrie (Ford M-Sport) and Seth Quintero (Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC). Another illustration of this successful training pathway: since 2025, a group of drivers has emerged who have won in SSV, in Challenger and now in Ultimate. These pioneers are Rokas Baciuska (Overdrive Racing), his teammate Eryk Goczal, and Joao Ferreira (Toyota Gazoo Racing). Like Moraes, they represent the next generation in a sport that is more competitive than ever. Discover all the 2025 W2RC key numbers here.

REACTIONS:

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, said:
“It has been another strong year in the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship. It is a category that is getting bigger and more competitive every year, with great interest from global manufacturers and elite-level crews. Across five events and thousands of competitive kilometres, it was incredible to see the championship decided on the very last day of the season. My congratulations go to Lucas Moraes on winning his first FIA World Championship, to the Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC team on a remarkable fourth consecutive title, and to the World Champion navigator Édouard Boulanger on his second successive triumph. It has been a pleasure to celebrate them tonight at the FIA Awards.”

David Castera, W2RC Promotor, said:
“The 2025 season was the closest in the young history of the W2RC. The FIA field has never been so competitive, with manufacturers pushing performance to new heights. Thanks to the W2RC talent pathway, the new generation is now challenging the most experienced and historic rally-raid champions. The ingredients for an exceptional show were all there, and the suspense lasted until the very end. We must thank the competitors and manufacturers for this, as well as the organisers of the five rounds, who provided terrains that delivered great sporting moments. Congratulations to Lucas Moraes, Édouard Boulanger and all their rivals, who fought brilliantly. Five different winners in five events demonstrates the diversity of the W2RC, the intensity of its competition, and promises more strong emotions in 2026.”

Lucas Moraes, 2025 FIA W2RC Drivers’ World Champion, said:
“Being celebrated at the FIA Awards is a great honour. I am extremely proud of the team and of what we achieved this year. We combined speed and consistency, reaching the podium four times. We fought until the end, and I always believed in it — right up to the final stage. Not even Steven Spielberg could have imagined such an end to the season! It’s incredible. I am also happy and honoured for Brazil, and I hope this victory will help grow our sport even more at home. As a kid, I watched Nasser Al Attiyah, Sébastien Loeb and Carlos Sainz battle for rally-raid victories, and now we’re racing alongside them. It’s amazing. I love this sport, I will continue with passion and determination, and I hope we can win more titles in the future.”

Édouard Boulanger, 2025 FIA W2RC Navigators’ World Champion, said:
“The championship has gained value in recent years. The level of competition keeps rising, and bringing home a second consecutive title shows commitment and consistency throughout the season. This year was special: changing drivers mid-season is unusual, but Nasser Al Attiyah and Sébastien Loeb are extraordinary, each with their own style. Finishing fourth at the Dakar was frustrating because we had the potential for the podium, but we bounced back by winning in Abu Dhabi. There was a natural chemistry with Seb and we quickly found the right direction. We produced an almost perfect performance in Portugal and Morocco, where the win allowed me to secure the title. We were efficient and this will help us prepare for what promises to be a very competitive 2026 season.”

Jean-Marc Fortin, Sporting Director for Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC, 2025 FIA W2RC Manufacturers’ World Champion, said:
“It was an incredible year and it’s fantastic to win again. We had already been champions, but this title is very special and full of emotion. First, because the new people at Toyota believed in this project and in its future. Second, because it’s not every day that a championship is decided on the very last kilometre! The year was intense, and it’s fantastic to win both the drivers’ and the manufacturers’ titles. I discovered Lucas Moraes three years ago, gave him his chance at the Dakar, and we’ve shared an extraordinary adventure. He is a great competitor and fully deserves this success. He scored crucial points in the manufacturers’ standings, as did our other drivers. We were very consistent, finishing on the podium in all five rounds. Our team was very strong, and we are ready to go again in 2026.”

ALL THE 2025 FIA W2RC WINNERS:

• FIA World Rally-Raid Drivers’ Championship: Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC)

• FIA World Rally-Raid Navigators’ Championship: Édouard Boulanger (The Dacia Sandriders)

• FIA World Rally-Raid Constructors’ Championship: Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC

• FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Challenger drivers: Nicolas Cavigliasso (Vertical Motorsport)

• FIA Rally-Raid Championship for Challenger navigators: Valentina Pertegarini (Vertical Motorsport)

• FIA Rally-Raid Championship for SSV drivers: Alexandre Pinto (Old Friends Rally Team)

• FIA Rally-Raid Championship for SSV navigators: Bernardo Oliveira (Old Friends Rally Team)