The race for general FIA World Rally Championship honours and a head-to-head contest between two rising skills are among the many highlights in retailer on subsequent week’s Rally Chile Biobío.
Counting as spherical 11 of the 13-event FIA WRC season, the third Rally Chile Biobío is the eighth and closing gravel occasion of the present marketing campaign.
Scheduled from September 26-29 in Chile’s spectacular Biobío area, the South American fixture continues to be based mostly within the port metropolis of Concepción, near the Pacific Ocean and with phases run within the forests to the south.
Rally Chile Biobío might be held within the second week the Southern Hemisphere’s springtime, which may imply rain and cooler climate situations.
However whereas the temperature could be colder in Chile, the FIA WRC title battle might be red-hot with Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Group’s Thierry Neuville aiming to remain away from the chasing pack. It’s headed by his team-mate, Ott Tänak, the 2019 FIA WRC champion, and Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT’s Sébastien Ogier, who stays in competition for a ninth world crown. And with a most haul of 90 factors up for grabs throughout the deciding three rounds of the season, Toyota’s Elfyn Evans and M-Sport Ford World Rally Group’s Adrien Fourmaux are usually not out of the title body simply but.
It is a comparable story in FIA WRC2 for Rally2 automobiles with Oliver Solberg main the provisional order. The 22-year-old Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS driver from Sweden is three factors forward of Sami Pajari having claimed a hat-trick of wins in 2024. Pajari can be a three-time winner within the class however the Finn, 22, has his focus fastened on Rally1 energy on Rally Chile Biobío. The occasion marks his second look in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid following his stage-winning top-level debut on Secto Rally Finland in August.
Mārtinš Sesks from Latvia, one other driver rated as a doable future world champion, additionally returns to Rally1 degree in Chile. The 25-year-old’s Ford Puma Rally1 received’t run with the usual plug-in hybrid system below new guidelines for this season which were designed to make the FIA WRC’s headlining class extra accessible. Nevertheless, Sesks’ Puma should carry the equal weight of the total EV system in ballast and received’t be eligible for Producer championship factors.
Pirelli, the FIA WRC’s official tyre provider, will present its soft-compound Scorpion KX tyre as he first selection in anticipation of cool and damp situations with the hard-compound model out there as the choice tyre ought to the climate be heat and dry. A most of 28 tyres, together with 4 for shakedown, can be utilized by the Rally1 groups.
RALLY CHILE BIBÍO ROUTE IN SHORT
South America’s spherical of the FIA World Rally Championship follows an analogous path to the 2023 version, albeit with a brand new shakedown stage and tweaks to the Pelun and Lota timed checks on leg two and Laraquete and Bio Bio on leg three. The ceremonial begin location has additionally modified with a return to Concepción for 2024 after it came about in Los Ángeles in 2023. Leg one consists of two loops of three phases over a aggressive distance of 112.76 kilometres.
Positioned southeast of Concepción, Friday’s phases are recognized for his or her larger speeds in comparison with the remainder of the route. At 139.20 kilometres, leg two, situated south of Concepción, is the longest of the rally with the 28.31-kilometre Maria las Cruce stage the rally’s longest. The 2 loops of three phases are thought of extra twisty than legs one and three, whereas Lota homes the fan-friendly Rally Village.
Additionally situated south of Concepción, the event-deciding leg three options two repeated phases – Laraquete and Bio Bio – over a aggressive distance of 54.80 kilometres. The rerun of Bio Bio, the place the Rally Village can be situated, kinds the Wolf Stage with the motion as a consequence of start at 13:00 hrs native time. The gravel-based Rally Chile Biobío is famend for its quick and cambered forest roads, that are largely easy in nature.
RALLY CHILE BIOBÍO RALLY DATA
Stage distance: 306.76 km
Complete distance: 1239.23 km
Variety of phases: 16
RALLY1 CONTENDERS
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
Having secured a 1-2-3 end on EKO Acropolis Rally earlier this month, Thierry Neuville heads the German squad’s Rally Chile BioBío entry – and the provisional FIA World Rally Championship factors desk – with team-mate Ott Tänak now his closest challenger in second. Esapekka Lappi is again within the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid for Rally Chile BioBío having final competed for the crew in Finland.
M-Sport Ford WRT
Mārtinš Sesks returns to the British outfit’s line-up for his Rally Chile Biobío debut in a non-hybrid Ford Puma Rally1, his first look since Tet Rally Latvia in July, the place he missed out on a podium end on the Energy Stage. Adrien Fourmaux and Grégoire Munster will even fly the M-Sport flag on Rally Chile BioBío, an occasion it received in 2023 with former driver Ott Tänak.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier – presently third within the provisional Drivers’ standings – leads the Toyota line in Chile alongside reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä. Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari additionally kind a part of the crew’s problem with Pajari getting ready for his second begin at Rally1 degree.
SUPPORTING CATEGORIES
A extremely aggressive FIA WRC2 entry contains present factors chief Oliver Solberg (Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), Citroën C3 Rally2 pair Nikolay Gryazin and Yohan Rossel (DG Sport Competitors), plus Toyota GR Yaris Rally2-mounted Jan Solans.
Chilean brothers Alberto and Pedro Heller are entered in a pair of Citroën C3 Rally2s, whereas Jorge Martínez (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), who was born in occasion host metropolis Concepcíon, is an 11-time nationwide champion.
Gus Greensmith, who completed runner-up to team-mate Solberg in Chile final season, can be entered, as is Kajetan Kajetanowicz, a winner of the FIA European Rally Championship on three events, and Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zaldivar.
Factors pacesetter Diego Domínguez tops FIA WRC3 Championship entry in a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Renault Clio Rally3 driver Ghjuvanni Rossi is amongst his opposition.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Media accreditation
Media accreditation for Rally Chile BioBío have to be collected in particular person by accredited go holders from the Accreditation Desk situated as follows: MDS Resort Concepción, Calle A 809 Brisa del Sol, Concepción, BioBío.
Media accreditation opening hours
Tuesday September 24: 14:00 – 20:00 hrs
Wednesday September 25: 08:30 – 20:00 hrs
Thursday September 26: 07:30 – 20:00 hrs
Friday September 27: upon request solely to the nationwide press crew
Media Centre location and opening hours
The Media Centre is situated as follows: MDS Resort Concepción, Calle A 809 Brisa del Sol, Concepción, BioBío.
Media Middle opening hours
Tuesday September 24: 14:00 – 20:00 hrs
Wednesday September 25: 08:30 – 20:00 hrs
Thursday September 26: 08:00 – 20:00 hrs
Friday September 27: 07:30 – 22:00 hrs
Saturday September 28: 08:00 – 22:00 hrs
Sunday September 29: 07:00 – 22:00 hrs
Media actions and alternatives
Wednesday 25 September
17:00 Tabard Media Security Briefing, necessary for all tabard media (Media Centre)
Thursday 26 September
09:01 – 11:00 Shakedown for P1 drivers and invited P2 drivers (Conuco, 6.79km)
11:01 – 12:30 Shakedown for all precedence drivers (Conuco, 6.79km)
12:31 – 14:00 Shakedown for P2, P3 and non-priority drivers (Conuco, 6.79km)
12:30 – 14:00 FIA WRC Media Pen for P1 and P2 drivers and P1 TPs (Fan Zone in SP, Concepción)
17:40 – 18:20 Autograph session with all P1 crews (Concepción)
18:20 – 19:00 FIA WRC Meet the Crews for invited crews and crew reps (Concepción)
19:00 Ceremonial Begin (Concepción)
Friday 27 September
07:30 Begin of Part 1 (Service Park, Concepcíon)
19:30 approx. FIA WRC Meet the Crews with P1 TPs and high 3 drivers (Fan Zone in SP, Concepcíon)
Saturday 28 September
08:05 Begin of Part 3 (Parc Fermé, Service Park, Concepcíon)
20:00 approx. FIA WRC Meet the Crews with P1 TPs and high 3 drivers (Fan Zone in SP, Concepcíon)
Sunday 29 September
07:00 Begin of Part 5 (Parc Fermé, Service Park, Concepcíon)
15:30 Publish-event FIA Press Convention (Fan Zone, Service Park, Concepcíon)
16:00 Podium Ceremony and Prize-giving (Fan Zone, Service Park, Concepcíon)
(All occasions native, approximate and topic to alter)
Media zones
Media Zones attended by all drivers and chosen crew representatives will function as follows:
TC 3A, TC 6A, TC 9A, TC 12A and TC 16A
FIA WRC Meet the Crews dwell interviews, Concepción, Thursday 26 September
18:20 – 19:00 – FIA Assist Championships
Toksport WRT, Oliver Solberg (SWE), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
Fabrizio Zaldivar (PRY), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
Jorge Martínez (CHL), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
Pedro Heller (CHL), Citroën C3 Rally2
Diego Domínguez (PRY), Ford Fiesta Rally3
18:40 – 19:00 – FIA WRC Championship
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, Ott Tänak (EST), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Kalle Rovanperä (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Sami Pajari (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
M-Sport Ford WRT, Grégoire Munster (LUX), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
M-Sport Ford WRT, Mārtinš Sesks (LVA), Ford Puma Rally1
FIA WRC Group Principals are required to hitch their respective crews for interviews on the Begin Ramp.
FIA Publish-event Press Convention, Fan Zone (SP), Concepcíon, Sunday 29 September, 15:30
Prime 3 drivers in general classification, successful co-driver and consultant of successful producer
Profitable FIA WRC2, WRC2 Challenger, WRC3 and Masters Cup drivers.
FIA WRC Meet the Crews dwell interviews and FIA Publish-event Press Convention broadcast on FIA and WRC social media channels.
RALLY CHILE BIOBÍO MANUFACTURER ENTRIES
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTSébastien Ogier (FRA)/Vincent Landais (FRA) – #17 Elfyn Evans (GBR)/Scott Martin (GBR) – #33 Kalle Rovanperä (FIN)/Jonne Halttunen (FIN) – #69 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) – #11 Ott Tänak (EST)/Martin Järveoja (EST) – #8 Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) – #4 M-Sport Ford WRTAdrien Fourmaux (FRA)/Alexandre Coria (FRA) – #16 Grégoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Louka (BEL) – #13
ADDITIONAL RALLY CHILE BIOBÍO P1 ENTRIES
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Sami Pajari (FIN)/Enni Mälkönen (FIN) – #5
M-Sport Ford WRT Mārtinš Sesks (LVA)/Renārs Francis (LVA) – #22
FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 CLASSIFICATION
The provisional classifications following spherical 10 of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship can be found right here.
RALLY CHILE BIOBÍO 2023 RESULTS
1O. Tänak (EST)/M. Järveoja (EST)Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid3h06m.38.1s2T. Neuville (EBL)/M. Wydaeghe (BEL)Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid+42.1s3E. Evans (GBR)/S. Martin (GBR)Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid+1m06.9s
RALLY CHILE BIOBÍO WINNERS
2023 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
2019 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja Toyota Yaris WRC
