Sébastien Ogier clinched his fifth win of the season and surged into the FIA World Rally Championship lead with a commanding efficiency at Rally Chile Bio Bío.
The eight-time world champion accomplished a exceptional weekend by beating title rival and Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans by 11sec with co-driver Vincent Landais alongside. Evans had begun Sunday’s four-stage finale simply 6.3sec adrift in an equivalent GR Yaris Rally1 automobile.
Toyota’s tenth win of the season additionally pushed the Japanese marque additional away from Hyundai Motorsport, edging it nearer to a fifth consecutive producers’ title. Adrien Fourmaux led on the finish of day one however finally completed third – Hyundai’s prime performer – ending the rally behind Evans to safe his third podium of the 12 months.
Ogier’s triumph – his second in as many rounds – additionally cemented Toyota’s standing as essentially the most profitable producer in WRC historical past with 103 wins. It strikes him two factors away from Evans within the drivers’ standings with simply three rounds remaining and, crucially, means Ogier will open the street at subsequent month’s Central European Rally, a strategic profit on sealed-surface levels.
Very similar to his victory in Paraguay, Ogier’s weekend in Chile started with a troublesome Friday. He dropped as little as fifth earlier than rebounding on Saturday, aided by set-up modifications and damp circumstances that shifted the dynamics. A masterful closing leg left Evans with no reply, as Ogier collected most Tremendous Sunday and Wolf Energy Stage factors.
“It’s like we needed,” Ogier mentioned. “It has been a tougher weekend than Paraguay. We needed to combat a bit extra, we had a bit of problem within the mornings as I used to be not awake however we will be happy with the best way we ended up.
“I’m pleased with that and I’m trying ahead to switching to tarmac.”
The Frenchman additionally referenced the historic significance of his victory, Toyota’s 103rd: “Now we’re primary – a report for Toyota greater than deserved.”
Toyota’s tenth win of the season additionally pushed the Japanese marque 125 factors away from Hyundai Motorsport, edging it nearer to a fifth consecutive producers’ title. Adrien Fourmaux led on the finish of day one and finally completed third – Hyundai’s prime performer – ending the rally 35.5sec behind Evans to safe his third podium of the 12 months.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville adopted 12.5sec additional again in his related i20 N Rally1 however expressed frustration that his driving efforts weren’t being mirrored within the stage occasions. Staff-mate Ott Tänak, who retired from the lead with engine failure on Friday, restarted however may solely salvage one level he continued to expertise points along with his alternative energy unit.
“It is extremely irritating, however it’s the similar for the entire staff,” Neuville admitted. “But it surely retains on going which makes it even worse. I’m pleased with my driving and that’s the solely factor we are able to do for the time being.”
Kalle Rovanperä arrived in Chile second within the standings however dropped to 3rd after ending sixth total, his weekend hampered by a tyre debeading after hitting a financial institution on day one. The Finn now trails Ogier by 21 factors.
Takamoto Katsuta and Grégoire Munster accomplished the highest eight, whereas ninth-placed Oliver Solberg grew to become the primary title winner of the season. He held off Nikolay Gryazin to seal the WRC2 crown alongside co-driver Elliott Edmondson.
The WRC returns to Europe subsequent month for the Central European Rally (16 – 19 October), the twelfth spherical of the season. Based mostly in Passau, the occasion will take crews throughout asphalt levels spanning Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
