Oliver Solberg captured a fresh 2.3‑second advantage at the opening loop of Rally Chile, trading spots with WRC leader Elfyn Evans amid a night‑time rain‑slicked course.
Mud‑Soaked Start
The Toyota pair turned the overnight rainfall into an even ledger, hoping the slicked gravel would trim the usual cleaning burst of fresh tarmac.
Solberg won the first 1.4‑second stage, then Evans answered by taking the 10.76‑km run through Nuevo Rere 1.8 seconds faster, covering he claimed a 0.4‑second advance with the 2.3‑second buffer.
During the final loop of the second stage, Solberg outpaced Evans by 2.7 seconds to regain the lead before midday service.
“It is a new day for everything and that helps me,” Solberg said. “I love these stages, but they were sketchy… You have to enjoy a good flow without over‑pushing.”
He added, “I’m happy with this clean morning, and the rain was a safety benefit for Sebastien Ogier, who started sixth.”
Evans admitted, “The rain, arriving after the dry rallies we were used to, has helped level the playing field.” He remained eager for the remainder of the rally.
Mid‑Day Shifts
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux suffered an 11.6‑second drop after the heavy conditions took a toll on his i‑20 N Rally1, yet he held a 17.7‑second margin over the lead into the midday break.
The Frenchman reflected, “We had a technical glitch last stage, but the time loss was minimal. Tomorrow we plan to push hard.”
Thierry Neuville claimed victory in the third stage, moving just 0.5 seconds ahead of nine‑time champion Sebastien Ogier, who had struggled because of the muddier-than‑expected track.
Finnish champion Sami Pajari lost 17.8 seconds on the opening wheel but tightened the gap after tweaking his GR Yaris, securing sixth place 23.0 seconds off the lead.
Japanese man Takamoto Katsuta retired after a rear‑end loss at 6.2 km into the first stage, his car stranded by a roadside.
British driver Josh McErlean edged teammate Jon Armstrong, ranking seventh; Esapekka Lappi finished the morning in ninth, though he had to avoid a brush‑by bank on the second stage.
Continuing Challenges
The rally’s afternoon will repeat the trio of stages, demanding teams to adapt to the persistent mud and variable grip as the competition tightens.
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