Sébastien Ogier clinched his fifth win of the season and surged into the FIA World Rally Championship lead with a commanding performance at Rally Chile Bio Bío.
The eight-time world champion completed a remarkable 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 just 6.3sec adrift in an identical GR Yaris Rally1 car.
Ogier’s triumph – his second in as many rounds – also cemented Toyota’s status as the most successful manufacturer in WRC history with 103 wins. It moves him two points clear of Evans in the drivers’ standings with just three rounds remaining and, crucially, means Ogier will open the road at next month’s Central European Rally, a strategic benefit on sealed-surface stages.
Much like his victory in Paraguay, Ogier’s weekend in Chile began with a tough Friday. He dropped as low as fifth before rebounding on Saturday, aided by set-up changes and damp conditions that shifted the dynamics. A masterful final leg left Evans with no answer, as Ogier collected maximum Super Sunday and Wolf Power Stage points.
“It is like we wanted,” Ogier said. “It has been a more difficult weekend than Paraguay. We had to fight a bit more, we had a little issue in the mornings as I was not awake but we can be pleased with the way we ended up.
“I’m happy with that and I’m looking forward to switching to tarmac.”
The Frenchman also referenced the historic significance of his victory, Toyota’s 103rd: “Now we are number one – a record for Toyota more than deserved.”
Toyota’s 10th win of the season also pushed the Japanese marque 125 points clear of Hyundai Motorsport, edging it closer to a fifth consecutive manufacturers’ title. Adrien Fourmaux led at the end of day one and ultimately finished third – Hyundai’s top performer – ending the rally 35.5sec behind Evans to secure his third podium of the year.
Defending champion Thierry Neuville followed 12.5sec further back in his similar i20 N Rally1 but expressed frustration that his driving efforts weren’t being reflected in the stage times. Team-mate Ott Tänak, who retired from the lead with engine failure on Friday, restarted but could only salvage one point he continued to experience issues with his replacement power unit.
“It is very frustrating, but it is the same for the whole team,” Neuville admitted. “But it keeps on going which makes it even worse. I’m happy with my driving and that is the only thing we can do at the moment.”
Kalle Rovanperä arrived in Chile second in the standings but dropped to third after finishing sixth overall, his weekend hampered by a tyre debeading after hitting a bank on day one. The Finn now trails Ogier by 21 points.
Takamoto Katsuta and Grégoire Munster completed the top eight, while ninth-placed Oliver Solberg became the first 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 next month for the Central European Rally (16 – 19 October), the 12th round of the season. Based in Passau, the event will take crews across asphalt stages spanning Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.
FINAL STANDINGS:
1. S Ogier / V Landais FRA Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 2h 55m 42.1s
2. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +11s
3. A Fourmaux / A Coria FRA Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +46.5s
4. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N Rally1 +59s
5. S Pajari / M Salminen FIN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1m 03.4s
6. K Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 +1m 53.7s
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS (After round 11 of 14):
1. S Ogier 224pts
2. E Evans 222pts
3. K Rovanperä 203pts
