Rally Chile Biobio 2025

[240RS]

Ogier is definitely awake then. . .

[satnav]

On the tracking Ott isn't going to SS 14

He's now hot footing his way to the stage start, probably get a fine from FIA for speeding ......

[CeskyOndra]

With Ogier going to take 35 points, this is definitely the end of Tanak's title hopes.

[EstWRC]

It’s the end anyway.

Was fun until this rally. Season over for me

Congrats Ogier!

[CeskyOndra]

On the tracking Ott isn't going to SS 14

What do u mean? I see him going to the start, on the same route as the others

[satnav]

What do u mean? I see him going to the start, on the same route as the others

He was stopped where they turn off rd 160 for a long time as the others were on their way , i did update to say he was now moving towards the stage start

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Rally2 power says Tanak... not good.

[Tauri_J]

Thats a very good Rally2 time

[240RS]

Toyota have gone 1-2-3-4-5 on Stage 14. If there was ever a hint on the performance gap between the two manufacturers, this is it.

[Dontcut]

Toyota have gone 1-2-3-4-5 on Stage 14. If there was ever a hint on the performance gap between the two manufacturers, this is it.

This window is so freaking tiny where Hyundai could really perform. Depending on wet/dry, hard/soft road etc.

[Dontcut]

Tänak interior or dashboard is striped to give better cooling?

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The engine is hanging tough. One to go !

[EstWRC]

Damn he would have won the rally definitely and the fight for the title would have been great

Now we have just the Toyota intra team battle again

[trykmann]

Damn he would have won the rally definitely and the fight for the title would have been great

Now we have just the Toyota intra team battle again

I also don't see a possibility for the Toyotas to have been faster than him. It's a shame that other Hyundais lost their positions.

[focus206]

Kalle gives me the impression that he doesn't even try to push to fight back when something happens to him, just drives ok at his own pace and that's it.
This weekend he was unlucky opening the road on day 2 and catching Pajari was a big ask anyway, but it's not the first time I have this impression. You could think he just doesn't feel comfortable with the car, but at the beginning of rallies his times are usually up there.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Chapeau Ogier. That's done it.

[EstWRC]

Kalle gives me the impression that he doesn't even try to push to fight back when something happens to him, just drives ok at his own pace and that's it.
This weekend he was unlucky opening the road on day 2 and catching Pajari was a big ask anyway, but it's not the first time I have this impression. You could think he just doesn't feel comfortable with the car, but at the beginning of rallies his times are usually up there.

Agreed. He just looks so unmotivated this year. I’m starting to doubt he will do the full year next year.

[trykmann]

Agreed. He just looks so unmotivated this year. I’m starting to doubt he will do the full year next year.

I have the same impression. Seems like a regular guy, who goes to work and does the things he is paid for, but the fire is not there anymore.

[Eli]

It’s the end anyway.

Was fun until this rally. Season over for me

Congrats Ogier!

Or Evans…

[bandit12]

Or Evans…
I’m afraid that Ogier will mentally break poor Evans...

[Eli]

I’m afraid that Ogier will mentally break poor Evans...

I hope not, if any Toyota wins (if as if they won’t lol) this year I’d like it to be Evans.

[Eli]

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/rally-chile-organizer-earns-suspended-e15000-fine/
Not sure if this was posted here.

[WRCStan]

I’m afraid that Ogier will mentally break poor Evans...

I don't think Evans needs anybody's help.

[KKS]

I have the same impression. Seems like a regular guy, who goes to work and does the things he is paid for, but the fire is not there anymore.
2 WDC was a fluke when Ogier was on a holiday

[CeskyOndra]

2 WDC was a fluke when Ogier was on a holiday

Ogier wouldn't stand a chance against Rovanpera in 2022.

[focus206]

2 WDC was a fluke when Ogier was on a holiday

Ogier in the Pirelli+hybrid era was a shadow of the Ogier we know. He wasn't able to beat Thierry last year, good luck against Kalle.

[denkimi]

Ogier wouldn't stand a chance against Rovanpera in 2022.
the only one who has ever beaten ogier in equal machinery was loeb, when ogier was still learning.

I'm not convinced rovanpera would have been champion is ogier did a full season. And i'm equally unconviced tanak would have been champion if ogier hadn't gone to citroen.
he just is the goat of the sport.

[EstWRC]

Ogier wouldn't stand a chance against Rovanpera in 2022.

Exactly. I hate when people say this or the same for Tanaks 2019 title.

Like I have mentioned previously, Tanaks 2019 title was even stronger than Kalles in statistically

[CeskyOndra]

If Ogier was unbeatable in hybrid era, he wouldn't have crashed in 3 rallies a row chasing title last year.

[focus206]

the only one who has ever beaten ogier in equal machinery was loeb, when ogier was still learning.

I'm not convinced rovanpera would have been champion is ogier did a full season. And i'm equally unconviced tanak would have been champion if ogier hadn't gone to citroen.
he just is the goat of the sport.

Ogier lost the title in 2019 driving a car that still made Meeke win rallies, Breen, Mikkelsen and Ostberg get podiums. I would have expected the goat to still do better than what he did.
While nobody can say for certain, I'd be willing to bet Kalle won the titles with hands in pockets in 2022 and 2023, knowing Ogier wasn't a threat. He could have been faster if it was needed.
Yeah, Ogier is amazing, but beating Kalle in those years? I can't imagine it. In 2024 he didn't seem fast enough nor consistent enough to do that, he was unable to recover few points from Neuville in an inferior car, too many crashes.

[CeskyOndra]

So who will be replaced by Solberg in Toyota next year? Pajari?

[satnav]

Congratulations Oliver and Elliott Very well done

[Rallyper]

A very well deserved title to Oliver Solberg winning the WRC2 Championship. Big Congrats to Oliver, Eliott and the whole team!

[CeskyOndra]

Will Ogier retire in case of 9th tittle this year?

[meh]

Will Ogier retire in case of 9th tittle this year?

No, then he needs to be BETTER than Loeb. 9th makes them just level.

[CeskyOndra]

No, then he needs to be BETTER than Loeb. 9th makes them just level.

He will never be better than Loeb, maybe statistically

[denkimi]

No, then he needs to be BETTER than Loeb. 9th makes them just level.

But he did it with 3 different teams.

[meh]

In this term it has been a nice powerstage - everyone is pushing like hell.

[meh]

Whoever laughed at Ogier at the finish of Paraguay.. he meant it seriously. That is a statement.

[meh]

66 wins from 200 starts. That is some statement as well.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

Plenty of craziness left in Ogier. Wow !

[denkimi]

9 rallies started, 5 won. one 3th place as worst result.

no, i don't think kalle or ott would have been able to beat him if he did a full season in the same car.

[meh]

Meanwhile
* happy for Fourmaux for the podium
* happy for Pajari for the pace and fight on that level

[Eli]

9 rallies started, 5 won. one 3th place as worst result.

no, i don't think kalle or ott would have been able to beat him if he did a full season in the same car.

I think Ogier knowing he didn’t have to do Sweden, Kenya & Estonia helped him a bit. Also no Hybrid makes him seem as if he’s in that Polo R again.

[focus206]

9 rallies started, 5 won. one 3th place as worst result.

no, i don't think kalle or ott would have been able to beat him if he did a full season in the same car.

You are retroactively applying Ogier's great form of 2025 to the past, trying to overwrite his worse form with Pirelli hybrid car in 2022-2024. That's not how it works. Ogier was slower and more inconsistent in the past 3 years.

[Eli]

So now it’s a Toyota mash up, if Evans doesn’t bin it like in ‘23 in CER he might have a shot, I’d say Rovanperä is out of it not completely but like you guys said, he seems not too fussed about it. See you guys in CER!!

[Dontcut]

Ogier is goat. His PS driving was bonkers.
Overall, WRC is in bad state: Toyota absolutely dominating, then comes gap before Hyundai which works in very specific conditions, breaks down and destroys tyres, then walk to moon and back comes MSport.

[Negaiss]

If Ogier gets 9th world title, hope He will go for 10th to beat Loeb.

[Dontcut]

If Ogier gets 9th world title, hope He will go for 10th to beat Loeb.

And Loeb will be there to challenge him :)

[deephouse]

He will never be better than Loeb, maybe statistically

Also if he will win the 9th title, he will win it in a ''part season'', with 3 different teams.


And Loeb will be there to challenge him :)

With what, Lancia? or Dacia? Imagine that story, secretly already building a car.

[KKS]

Also if he will win the 9th title, he will win it in a ''part season'', with 3 different teams.



With what, Lancia? or Dacia? Imagine that story, secretly already building a car.
Non of them will not drive anything rally2 bulls*it in 2027. So Ogier 100% will come to 2026 to make WDC counts by 2 digits

[focus206]

So after 11 rounds we have 10 wins for Toyota and 1 for Hyundai. If they win the remaining 3 rallies, they could even beat the VW record of 2014 and 2015, when they won 12 out of 13 rounds.

Ogier is the favourite for the title, but Evans has been super consistent. A mistake or a technical problem for Ogier could swing things around.
Kalle is not out yet, but a lot depends on his asphalt performance. He was unbeatable in Canarias even for Ogier and Evans, but we know Canarias is a special asphalt event. We have to see how it translates into CER and Japan. Then there's Saudi, which could have massive cleaning.

Hyundais are out of it, just not good enough.

[doubled1978]

I really like this rally. Good stages, variable conditions, nice contrast between the farmland stages on Friday and the forestry stages on Saturday/Sunday.

Ogier - Nothing much to say, incredible.
Evans - Really good drive, he’s just not Ogier and that’s not his fault.
Fourmaux - Good effort, no mistakes. Shame Hyundai dropped the ball Sat/Sun. Beat Neuville over those 2 days with same road position, so he did ok against the only person we can directly compare him to.
Neuville - Good powerstage
Pajari - Good run, decent speed.
Rovanpera - Good for a few stages until the puncture. Lacklustre thereafter.
Katsuta - Either too slow or too fast. Ragged when he goes fast enough and makes mistakes.
Munster - Not bad, for him. Watching his onboards, he drivers the car nicely, just not quick enough, like he doesn’t like the car twitching around on the edge to get the speed out of it.
McErlean - Disaster. Ultimately I think he has more potential than Munster though.

[trykmann]

Also if he will win the 9th title, he will win it in a ''part season'', with 3 different teams.



Loeb in 2006 didn't compete in 4 events.

[denkimi]

Loeb in 2006 didn't compete in 4 events.
And with a "private" team.

[Steve Boyd]

Answer: NO

WRC Regulations

17.1.1 Each Manufacturer must use no more than 2 engines per car
name per season (see also Art.17.2.2 and Art. 17.2.3).

But

17.2.3 When a car does not finish the Power Stage, an extra engine
per car name may be allowed without incurring a penalty. No
more than one extra engine per car name and per season may
be sealed without incurring any penalty.
When an extra engine is used, the engine which was fitted on
a retired car (car name) may not be used any further during
the season (see Art. 17.1.4).

If Tanak does not finish Sunday they can use a new engine replacing on of these two damaged
I am well aware of the current regulations, thank you.

You stated that they were stupid, so I was asking what you would replace them with.

[doubled1978]

So after 11 rounds we have 10 wins for Toyota and 1 for Hyundai. If they win the remaining 3 rallies, they could even beat the VW record of 2014 and 2015, when they won 12 out of 13 rounds.

Ogier is the favourite for the title, but Evans has been super consistent. A mistake or a technical problem for Ogier could swing things around.
Kalle is not out yet, but a lot depends on his asphalt performance. He was unbeatable in Canarias even for Ogier and Evans, but we know Canarias is a special asphalt event. We have to see how it translates into CER and Japan. Then there's Saudi, which could have massive cleaning.

Hyundais are out of it, just not good enough.

It’s actually shocking when you lay it out like that. Clearly in the switch to non-hybrid and Hankook, Toyota have done a better job of adapting their car.

[CeskyOndra]

So after 11 rounds we have 10 wins for Toyota and 1 for Hyundai. If they win the remaining 3 rallies, they could even beat the VW record of 2014 and 2015, when they won 12 out of 13 rounds.

Ogier is the favourite for the title, but Evans has been super consistent. A mistake or a technical problem for Ogier could swing things around.
Kalle is not out yet, but a lot depends on his asphalt performance. He was unbeatable in Canarias even for Ogier and Evans, but we know Canarias is a special asphalt event. We have to see how it translates into CER and Japan. Then there's Saudi, which could have massive cleaning.

Hyundais are out of it, just not good enough.

Cleaning in Saudi won't matter at all. I heard it will be all about survival.. It's worse than Turkey was..

[KKS]

So Tanak didnt retire from a rally. It's mean use weak Sweden engine for next 3 rally or +5min at CER for 3rd engine?

[COD]

So who will be replaced by Solberg in Toyota next year? Pajari?

Why would they replace him now? Used all the money to let him gain the experience and then sack, just as his speed is improving. He will have another year for sure, more likel is that Ogier finally retires

[focus206]

Cleaning in Saudi won't matter at all. I heard it will be all about survival.. It's worse than Turkey was..

I expected it to be sandy with cleaning, like some rallies in the Middle East... I guess it could be rockier than I thought

[focus206]

It’s actually shocking when you lay it out like that. Clearly in the switch to non-hybrid and Hankook, Toyota have done a better job of adapting their car.

Definitely. Which is a shame, because last year Hyundai was much closer to Toyota, although still a bit slower and more unreliable. This year, not a chance. And the gap we saw in Canarias was straight up embarassing for them.

[flat_right]

Definitely. Which is a shame, because last year Hyundai was much closer to Toyota, although still a bit slower and more unreliable. This year, not a chance. And the gap we saw in Canarias was straight up embarassing for them.

Was it really much closer? IMHO it is exactly the same. This year Rovanpera and especially Ogier haven't binned (like in 2024) and Hyundai just falls apart in Ott's case (here in Chile, in Safari (broken driveshaft), Portugal (power steering). All these have come from rally lead. How many technical failures can you name from Toyota side? One can argue, that Ott is driving too roughly but this is the only way you can drive against Toyota if you want to win.

Other problems for Tänak this year... In Monte there was also steering issue, Sweden engine issue (oil on the windscreen), Spain.. was just pain. Don't know what car did Hyundai bring there but this one wasn't a Rally1 car. in Greece gearbox, in Paraguay he had a puncture being really close to lead. Ok, this can happen to anyone but the pattern his here. Maybe there was something more but these came in my mind first.

TL;DR Really hard to be a Tänak fan.

[trykmann]

Was it really much closer? IMHO it is exactly the same. This year Rovanpera and especially Ogier haven't binned (like in 2024) and Hyundai just falls apart in Ott's case (here in Chile, in Safari (broken driveshaft), Portugal (power steering). All these have come from rally lead. How many technical failures can you name from Toyota side? One can argue, that Ott is driving too roughly but this is the only way you can drive against Toyota if you want to win.

Other problems for Tänak this year... In Monte there was also steering issue, Sweden engine issue (oil on the windscreen), Spain.. was just pain. Don't know what car did Hyundai bring there but this one wasn't a Rally1 car. in Greece gearbox, in Paraguay he had a puncture being really close to lead. Ok, this can happen to anyone but the pattern his here. Maybe there was something more but these came in my mind first.

TL;DR Really hard to be a Tänak fan.

Punctures are also in some cases the drivers fault, but still the car died on a water crossing and the front damper broke on the powerstage in Paraguay. These faults played a major role in the overall Sunday points classification.

[focus206]

Was it really much closer? IMHO it is exactly the same. This year Rovanpera and especially Ogier haven't binned (like in 2024) and Hyundai just falls apart in Ott's case (here in Chile, in Safari (broken driveshaft), Portugal (power steering). All these have come from rally lead. How many technical failures can you name from Toyota side? One can argue, that Ott is driving too roughly but this is the only way you can drive against Toyota if you want to win.

Other problems for Tänak this year... In Monte there was also steering issue, Sweden engine issue (oil on the windscreen), Spain.. was just pain. Don't know what car did Hyundai bring there but this one wasn't a Rally1 car. in Greece gearbox, in Paraguay he had a puncture being really close to lead. Ok, this can happen to anyone but the pattern his here. Maybe there was something more but these came in my mind first.

TL;DR Really hard to be a Tänak fan.

Last year I don't remember any major (meaning causing the loss of several minutes or superrally) technical trouble for Tanak, his misfortunes came from elsewhere. Neuville had broken fuel pump in Safari and broken turbo in Japan. As for the 3rd driver, I remember Lappi with a broken driveshaft in Safari and looking at ewrc-results, he seemed to have more technical trouble at the end of the season, but honestly I don't remember if those were consequences of mistakes.
And speed wise too, Hyundai last year didn't feel ages behind Toyota, even with Ogier driving at the end of the season.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

It makes you wonder if Tanak can really go through another year like this with fault after fault on the Hyundai. Here in Chile was yet another rally he could/should have won only to be denied by his car.

I suppose he might continue in 2026 with Hyundai if he cant get into Toyota, but it may just be going through the motions and picking up the money before probable retirement.

[deephouse]

We could have more info or closer monitoring what is going on in the cars, at least they ''promised'' it would be kinda like that. We can only assume it's more or less Hyundai's fault than drivers. But basing on Tanak's onboards he is always so agressive. Just calling for accident or things to broke. But hey, the car should already be made like tank, but I think it's every year worse. Even after 11 years and combined with earlier attempts: around 16 years in the sport.

[EstWRC]

Tanak doesn’t aggressive style. Stop it already.

Yeah he did before 2018 but after a year together with Ogier it changed

[flat_right]

Tanak doesn’t aggressive style. Stop it already.

Yeah he did before 2018 but after a year together with Ogier it changed

At least in Portugal he did. Ogier said this and also FX told that https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/hyundai-identifies-cause-of-tanak-power-steering-failure/

When he has a margin, he is one of the smoothest drivers but if he has to really push to beat someone, then...

[deephouse]

And I guess last year he didn't drive anywhere agressively, especially there, when he bin it completely on several ocassions

[trykmann]

I have understood the Hyundai has to be driven more agressively to be fast with it. Tänak has mentioned in many cases, that the car itself drives unnaturaly for him and he likes to drive differently.

Tänak obviously has driven over the limit in many cases and a smart drive would have been better. Still the Portugal response from FX seems like lame excuse to shift the responsibility to Tänak. If you want to win, then you have to be the fastest and if the car breaks with this speed, then it is not strong enough. Toyotas haven't had this kind of issues for a long time anymore.

[flat_right]

If you want to win, then you have to be the fastest and if the car breaks with this speed, then it is not strong enough. Toyotas haven't had this kind of issues for a long time anymore.

Agree with that 100%

[EstWRC]

I have understood the Hyundai has to be driven more agressively to be fast with it. Tänak has mentioned in many cases, that the car itself drives unnaturaly for him and he likes to drive differently.

Tänak obviously has driven over the limit in many cases and a smart drive would have been better. Still the Portugal response from FX seems like lame excuse to shift the responsibility to Tänak. If you want to win, then you have to be the fastest and if the car breaks with this speed, then it is not strong enough. Toyotas haven't had this kind of issues for a long time anymore.

This!

If you want to see aggressive style then watch how Fourmaux drivers or Lappi back in the day. That’s aggressive style

[EstWRC]

And I guess last year he didn't drive anywhere agressively, especially there, when he bin it completely on several ocassions

I don’t get this argument. Ogier binned three rallies in a row last year, was he also driving aggressively then?

[flat_right]

This!

If you want to see aggressive style then watch how Fourmaux drivers or Lappi back in the day. That’s aggressive style

In case of Fourmaux and Lappi, they are/were all the time sideways or power sliding. That is one form of aggressiveness.

But you can also be aggressive when you brake very late and accelerate hard, cut corners and use road edges, you are very committed (staying flat-out over crests, jumps, or blind corners, trusting pace notes or not taking slow when there are rough places on the stage), high physical inputs from driver.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

The engine that failed for Tanak was actually from Fourmaux ! Tanak took his car after Paraguay because it had a new transmission.

As Tanak finished Rally Chile to get 1 point, this means for CER someone in the team will either get the car with dodgy engines, or a 5 minute penalty...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-tanaks-chile-engine-failure-means-for-cer/

[WRCStan]

The engine that failed for Tanak was actually from Fourmaux ! Tanak took his car after Paraguay because it had a new transmission.

As Tanak finished Rally Chile to get 1 point, this means for CER someone in the team will either get the car with dodgy engines, or a 5 minute penalty...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-tanaks-chile-engine-failure-means-for-cer/

There should be 6 other cars each with 2 engines at the other end of Bavaria.

But interesting how they changed the plates from Fourmaux in Paraguay 924, to Tanak in Chile 914 which was his in Sweden 926. I'm sure it's all tickety-boo.

[deephouse]

Hyundai? Where is that 4th car, you loudly talk at the beginning of the season? We all know Neuville will not be the one, who will get this car.

I just hope, that the car he will receive will not fail again, which is highely likely it will somehow.

[Fast Eddie WRC]

There should be 6 other cars each with 2 engines at the other end of Bavaria.

But interesting how they changed the plates from Fourmaux in Paraguay 924, to Tanak in Chile 914 which was his in Sweden 926. I'm sure it's all tickety-boo.

Maybe this shows just how tight their budget really is. Its already been heard of them re-using old parts and at times struggling for a test car.

Is it known how many Rally1 Cars they've built that are still available?

[KKS]

The engine that failed for Tanak was actually from Fourmaux ! Tanak took his car after Paraguay because it had a new transmission.

As Tanak finished Rally Chile to get 1 point, this means for CER someone in the team will either get the car with dodgy engines, or a 5 minute penalty...

https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-tanaks-chile-engine-failure-means-for-cer/
So it's mean that Hyundai alredy do a "car name" slot swap before Paraguay.
If Tanak in Chile run a 'Fourmaux' Paraguay engine and 2nd engine to this slot was Sweden Tanak engine it's mean than Fourmaux drive same car slot as Tanak in Sweden.
BTW Can they just add 4 car, pay entry fee to CER and than retire from rally to scrap Tanak Chile engine?

[WRCStan]

BTW Can they just add 4 car, pay entry fee to CER and than retire from rally to scrap Tanak Chile engine?

No because the rule only applies in the manufacturers championship where they can only enter 3 per rally.

[Eli]

Liaison chapter 11:
https://youtu.be/_7U8PGiDsdc?feature=shared

[KiwiWRCfan]

Blogs about Rally Chile from 2 sets of Eyes
I am a Kiwi living in New Zealand who has attended over 100 rallies including almost 20 WRC events
My Friend Samuel is 14 years old and lives in Argentina. Chile 2025 was his first ever rally to attend in person.
Our blogs are about 1 rally through 2 sets of eyes.
Not who won the rally and what happened to the crews, you already know that. We are writing about the atmosphere, the spectators, what happened on our tour with Chilean tour group organisers CIDtur

The blogs are already starting to appear here in Spanish. https://rallyinsideplus.com/category/blog/
The blogs will also appear in French and English in the near future.
Different photos will be used with each language.
Please help us share our stories El Gringo and El Chico ( Gary Boyd and Samuel V)