Ogier leads WRC 2025 after fifth victory in Rally Chile Bio Bío

Sébastien Ogier won the Rally Chile Bio Bío and took the lead of the 2025 World Rally Championship. The Frenchman defeated Elfyn Evans by 11 seconds in Concepción to hold a mere two-point lead over his Toyota teammate.

Ogier achieved his fifth victory of the year with Vincent Landais as co-driver, capitalizing on adjustments made to his GR Yaris Rally1 during Saturday's service. The victory solidifies the Frenchman's partial program in his quest for a ninth world title.

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Toyota reaches historic record in the WRC

This victory, number 103 for Toyota in the WRC, makes it the most successful manufacturer in the championship's history. Ogier acknowledged the importance of the moment: "Now we are number one, a well-deserved record for Toyota."

The Japanese manufacturer extends its lead in the manufacturers' championship with a 125-point advantage over Hyundai Motorsport, closing in on its fifth consecutive title. With ten victories in 2025, Toyota maintains a steady pace towards the manufacturers' crown.

Comeback from fifth place

The weekend started off complicated for Ogier, who ended Friday in fifth position. The adjustments made during Saturday's midday service transformed the behavior of his GR Yaris Rally1, allowing him to climb positions.

"Even after 200 starts, we can occasionally go down the wrong path with the setup," admitted Ogier. "This morning I was lacking the feeling and precision needed for these narrow roads."

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Evans pressures until the end

Elfyn Evans started the final day with just a 6.3-second deficit, maintaining pressure throughout the four special stages on Sunday. The Welsh driver had taken the lead during Saturday morning in wet conditions reminiscent of his native Wales.

Adrien Fourmaux completed the podium in third position with his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, finishing 35.5 seconds behind Evans. The result is his third podium of the season and the best result for Hyundai in Chile.

Rovanperä loses ground in the championship

Kalle Rovanperä arrived in Chile as second in the championship but finished sixth after suffering a tire problem on Friday. The incident occurred when the GR Yaris Rally1 hit a bank on the third special stage, tearing the tire off the rim and losing over a minute.

The sixth-place finish leaves Rovanperä 21 points behind Ogier in the overall standings, complicating his aspirations for the world title.

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Solberg crowned champion in WRC2

Oliver Solberg became the first champion of the season by securing the WRC2 title. Solberg, along with his co-driver Elliott Edmondson, held off Nikolay Gryazin to be crowned in the development category.

Solberg used a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 prepared by Printsport Racing to win the championship with three rallies still to be contested on the main calendar.

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Next stop in Europe

The WRC returns to Europe next month for the Central European Rally, which will be held from October 16 to 19 based in Passau. The event will take teams through asphalt stages in Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic.

Ogier's championship lead means he will open the road on the sealed stages, a strategic advantage on surfaces where sweeping the line can be less detrimental than on gravel.

Final classification Rally Chile Bio Bío 2025: