Kalle Rovanperä secured victory at Rally Chile Bio Bío, overcoming Elfyn Evans on difficult roads due to the weather. This marks the Finnish driver's fourth win of the 2024 WRC season, which allowed Toyota to reduce the gap to Hyundai in the manufacturers' standings.
The rally was marked by dense fog and slippery roads. Despite a challenging start on Friday, Rovanperä found his rhythm on Saturday and took the lead by overtaking Evans, finishing with a 15.1-second advantage. On the final day, Rovanperä maintained his lead and secured his 15th WRC victory.
Toyota closes the gap in the championship
With Rovanperä’s win and Evans’ second place, Toyota reduced the gap to Hyundai to just 17 points in the manufacturers' championship. Despite Tänak’s podium finish, Hyundai couldn't prevent Toyota from cutting into their lead.
Sébastien Ogier suffered suspension damage after hitting a rock but managed to recover important points on Sunday.
Neuville holds the lead in the drivers' championship
Thierry Neuville finished fourth, allowing him to maintain a 29-point lead over Tänak in the drivers' standings. With only two rounds remaining, Neuville has a strong chance to secure the title at the next event in Central Europe.
Other results
Adrien Fourmaux was the best Ford driver, finishing fifth despite a one-minute penalty. Sami Pajari, in his second Rally1 appearance, impressed by finishing sixth. Esapekka Lappi, driving for Hyundai, was forced to retire in the penultimate stage after a spin damaged his radiator.
In WRC2, Yohan Rossel took the class victory, followed by Nikolay Gryazin, securing the teams' title for DG Sport Competition.
Next round in Europe
The championship continues in Central Europe with stages across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic from October 17 to 20.
| # | Driver | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rovanpera K. | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | 2:25:14.3 |
| 2 | Evans E. | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | +15.1 |
| 3 | Tanak O. | Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | +33.6 |
| 4 | Neuville T. | Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | +43.7 |
| 5 | Fourmaux A. | M-Sport Ford WRT | +1:23.0 |
| 6 | Pajari S. | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | +1:49.5 |
| 7 | Munster G. | M-Sport Ford WRT | +1:50.6 |
| 8 | Lappi E. | Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | +5:14.6 |
| 9 | Gryazin N. | Gryazin N. | +6:28.2 |
| 10 | Greensmith G. | Toksport WRT 3 | +6:45.0 |
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