Oliver Solberg captured a second World Rally Championship triumph at the wild Rally Chile, delivering a decisive win that sealed Toyota’s record‑equalling tenth manufacturers’ title.
Oliver Solberg Wins Rally Chile
Solberg and co‑driver Elliott Edmondson led from the first of the 16 rough gravel stages to the finish, keeping an 8‑second advantage over rival Sebastien Ogier through 15 of the 16 days.
After a close contest where the top four were within 20 seconds, Solberg’s final 16.6‑second margin over Ogier capped the rally, with nine‑time champion Evans dropping from second to fifth after a puncture.
Toyota Secures Record‑Equalling Manufacturers’ Title
All‑Toyota finishers, with four‑time runner‑up Adrien Fourmaux third, brought the marque a decade‑long milestone, matching Lancia’s 10‑title legacy.
“It has been an unbelievable weekend… this was a perfect weekend,” Solberg said, noting the team’s steadfast support and a touch of fortune that allowed the focus to stick.
Drivers Clash Under Stormy Conditions
Night rain on Friday gave the front‑rank trio – Solberg, Evans and Fourmaux – a strategic advantage, enabling them to post the earliest times and establish a significant buffer over rivals at the start of the stage loops.
Driving a new 26.82 km Carampangue stage, Evans took the lead by 0.4 seconds but was later undone by a wheel change during the second pass.
Punctures and Strategic Moves Shift Leaderboard
Evans’ puncture on Sunday and Solberg’s own puncture on the BioBio stage tested tyre strategy, but Toyota’s extra eight tyres and an additional tyre‑exchange point helped mitigate the risk across Saturday’s dry stages.
Fourmaux’s early tyre gamble earned him a half‑stage win, though he could not repeat the success later in the day.
Final Standings and Championship Implications
Solberg finished with 34 points after winning the Power Stage and placing second in the Super Sunday standings, narrowing the gap to 21 points against Evans with only two rounds yet to run.
Ogier achieved a record‑equalling 120th podium finish, while Sami Pajari’s fourth place gave him a minimal 17‑point advantage over Evans in the overall championship race.
Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux secured third, with Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville retiring after a high‑speed roll; M‑Sport‑Ford’s Josh McErlean finished seventh, and Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta retired early after a beached run.
WRC2’s Yohan Rossel took the title from Robert Virves, and Ali Turkkan claimed the Junior WRC crown, closing out a day of dense competition.
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