Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais delivered a commanding performance at the WRC Rally Chile BioBio, earning Ogier his 66th career win and taking the championship lead in a tightly contested season. This victory occurred amid intense competition, with Ogier now holding a slim two-point margin over his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Elfyn Evans.
Ogier’s Dominance on the Final Day of the Rally
Starting the final day with a 6.3-second advantage, Ogier quickly reinforced his lead by winning the opening stage and increasing his gap by nearly a second. Although Evans narrowed the margin slightly on the next stage, Ogier responded powerfully by dominating the penultimate stage, expanding his lead to over ten seconds. To cap off his standout performance, Ogier took the win in the Wolf Power stage, securing 35 points in total, along with the Super Sunday bonus.
Historic Milestone for Toyota and Ogier’s Remarkable Comeback
This victory represents Toyota’s 103rd win in World Rally Championship history, surpassing the record previously held by Citroen and establishing Toyota as the sport’s most successful manufacturer. Despite missing three rounds earlier in the season, Ogier’s comeback underscores his enduring skill and determination as an eight-time world champion.
Strong Performances from Hyundai and Other Contenders
Hyundai drivers Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria delivered a resilient outing, achieving their third podium finish of the season after briefly leading the rally on Friday. Meanwhile, Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe finished just off the podium in fourth place, narrowly losing the Wolf Power Stage by four-tenths of a second after struggling to find pace during the weekend.
Highlights from Other Key Drivers and Teams
Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen stood out by finishing fifth overall and claiming their first stage win outside their home region. Kalle Rovanpera endured a difficult rally after an early mistake affected his performance. Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston secured seventh place, leading the GR Yaris contingent, while Gregoire Munster and Louis Louka led the M-Sport Ford drivers in the standings. Ott Tanak faced challenges on Super Sunday due to engine overheating and managed to claim only a single point from the weekend.
Oliver Solberg Wins FIA WRC2 Championship with Stellar Rally Chile Performance
Oliver Solberg, paired with co-driver Elliot Edmondson, secured the FIA WRC2 Championship title through consistent excellence across the three days of competition, aside from a small spin during the initial stage. Their performance earned them the championship despite facing stiff competition from Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov, who finished as runners-up with their Skoda Fabia RS. Jan Solans and Rodrigo Sanjuan completed the WRC2 podium driving their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Implications and Looking Ahead for the WRC Season
The Rally Chile results highlight Ogier’s relentless pursuit of victory and Solberg’s impressive championship triumph, both exemplifying the intense passion and skill that define rally racing. As the WRC season continues, these performances promise further excitement and competition, with teams and drivers eager to build on their successes and challenge for titles.
“One Hell of a Headache” but Uninjured! —Tony Stewart
