The 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) returns to South America this weekend for round 11 of the season, as Rally Chile takes center stage from 26-29 September. Set in the lush, technical forests of Concepción, this rally presents a high-speed challenge on its varied gravel terrain. With the championship fight heating up, teams are ready to push hard to score crucial points in the final gravel event of the year.
Rally Chile is a unique event in the WRC calendar. The gravel stages are fast and flowing, reminiscent of Finland, but the loose surface can quickly become abrasive. Teams will have to keep a close eye on tyre wear, particularly if dry conditions persist. However, springtime in the southern hemisphere also means the possibility of rain, adding an extra layer of unpredictability to the event.
The stages are a mix of technical sections and open, fast roads, with stunning views over the Pacific Ocean on Saturday’s stages. The rally covers 306.76 competitive kilometres across 16 stages, with the longest day being Saturday, where crews will tackle 139.2km over six stages. The event concludes with Sunday’s Power Stage, Bio Bio 2, which could provide a dramatic finish to the weekend.
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team: Fighting Back in Chile
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team is eager to bounce back from a tough outing in Greece earlier this month. With a championship title still in sight, the team brings a formidable driver line-up of Kalle Rovanperä, Elfyn Evans, and Sébastien Ogier, all poised to fight for manufacturers’ points. After strong showings throughout the year, Rovanperä and Ogier, each with three rally victories, are motivated to get back on top, while Evans is determined to return to form following a string of challenging events.
Team Principal Jari-Matti Latvala remains optimistic about the team’s prospects in Chile: “The last two rallies have not gone our way in terms of our championship ambitions, but we will not give up the fight. We will keep pushing and focus on winning the last three rounds of the season and doing everything that we can to keep the pressure on. Our team is really motivated to do a good result in Chile and with Elfyn, Seb, and Kalle we have a very strong driver line-up to fight for the win.”
With Chile’s fast and flowing roads resembling Finland in character, Toyota’s drivers feel confident. However, tyre wear will be a key factor. Latvala noted: “The one thing we discovered last year is that the tyre wear can be quite high when it’s dry so we need to pay attention to that.”
Kalle Rovanperä, currently focused on aiding Toyota’s championship charge, echoed this concern: “We’re going to try and do everything we can to help the team fight back in Chile. The roads there are fast and flowing like in Finland but the characteristics of the gravel and the road base is really different, so managing the tyre wear is the biggest thing, I would say. It was not the easiest event for us last year, but we had the speed at least and together with the team we have tried to learn from that so that we can have a clean weekend and be fighting for the podium places.”
Elfyn Evans, who is eager to bounce back, expressed his excitement for the event: “I really enjoy driving the roads in Chile and I’m looking forward to the event. There’s a bit of a mix in character from day to day: the first is a bit more technical with crests, quite similar to Finland in a way, and then the second is a bit more wide and open, even a little like Wales. It was quite a strong event for us last year in terms of pace at least. We just underestimated how abrasive it would be in the dry conditions, which cost us a chance to challenge for victory, so we need to keep that in mind depending on how the weather is when we get there.”
Sébastien Ogier is also ready to push hard in Chile, even after a challenging rally in Greece: “Our challenge in Greece didn’t end in the way we were hoping and the gaps in both championships moved in the wrong direction, but we won’t give up and we’ll keep giving our best in these last three rounds of the season because things can still turn around. I didn’t go to Chile last year, but my memories from 2019 are of a nice event with stages that are enjoyable to drive, as well as a good atmosphere like we often have when we go to South America.”
Adding to the team’s roster is rising star Sami Pajari, who returns for his second outing in the GR YARIS Rally1 Hybrid. Pajari is focused on gaining experience but also has an eye on a strong performance: “I’m really excited to get back in the Rally1 car in Chile. I competed in Chile for the first time last year in WRC2 and the pace was quite good. The roads there are nice and a bit similar to some of the stages in Finland: mostly quite fast and flowing, with of course some specific challenges as well. I’m hoping I can have a similar weekend like in Finland – try to enjoy the driving and get better with every kilometre – and not feel any pressure in terms of the result.”
Hyundai Motorsport: Building on Momentum
Hyundai Motorsport comes into Rally Chile riding high after its historic 1-2-3 finish in Greece. The team is focused on extending its championship lead, but with three rounds left, including two on tarmac, Rally Chile is crucial for maintaining momentum.
Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul emphasized the importance of staying sharp: “While we approach Rally Chile with both optimism and momentum, we are also going into the event with great caution. Greece was a fantastic display of what can be achieved with great teamwork, but it is imperative we do not lose focus in the final events of the season. The Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid has demonstrated its robustness and reliability at other gravel rallies this season, so we want to end the final event on this surface strongly before our return to tarmac.”
Thierry Neuville, leading the drivers’ championship, knows the stakes: “Rally Chile is similar to some of the other gravel events we have faced this season, but the stages can vary a lot. We were able to really enjoy the drive last year and finish on the podium to make our weekend even better. We need a lot of traction from the car, particularly with our road position, but it also needs to be resistant to bumpier sections because the risk of punctures in Chile is high.”
Ott Tänak, who has won both previous editions of Rally Chile, is eager to continue his winning streak: “The last time we were in Chile, the roads were very abrasive, which was challenging for tyre management but not so hard on the car. At the same time, it was quite demanding for the drivers with a mix of fast and slow sections – similar to Finland. There is a bit of everything in this event, but it’s a driver’s rally – it’s all about performance. Experience is always good, but it’s difficult to take anything forward from our win last year in a new car with a new team.”
Esapekka Lappi returns after a solid showing in Finland and is looking forward to the challenge ahead: “I am feeling prepared for Chile, we did some testing in Finland prior to Acropolis so we have had some important seat time in the car fairly recently. The surface is quite unique: there is a lot of loose gravel, but it can also be abrasive when the road section begins to be cleaned.”
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team: A Trio of Talent
M-Sport Ford World Rally Team is fielding three Rally1 crews in Chile, with Adrien Fourmaux, Grégoire Munster, and Mārtiņš Sesks at the helm. Sesks, in particular, is excited about his second chance to drive the non-hybrid Puma Rally1: “Of course it will be a big challenge to go to South America and drive a Rally1 car in Chile for the first time. It will be a great adventure I think, something new again and we’re now trying to prepare for the rally.”
Richard Millener, M-Sport’s Team Principal, is excited about what the team’s young talent can achieve: “I’m really excited to be heading back to South America for Rally Chile, especially since we are fielding three Rally1 cars there. I’m pleased to have Mārtiņš back with us in the non-hybrid Puma, his performances earlier this season have really made him stand out and I’m looking forward to seeing what he makes of this opportunity.”
Rally Chile is poised to be a thrilling event, with all three major teams bringing their best to the fast, abrasive roads of Concepción. With tyre management, unpredictable weather, and a fiercely competitive field, the stage is set for an exciting weekend of WRC action.
As Toyota, Hyundai, and M-Sport push for vital points in the final gravel round of the season, the pressure is on. Expect battles at every turn as drivers like Rovanperä, Tänak, and Neuville vie for the top step of the podium.