Ogier leads Toyota to record WRC win in Chile, takes championship lead
SOARING TO THE TITLE: Sébastien Ogier powered Toyota to a record-breaking victory at Rally Chile, securing maximum points and the lead in the World Rally Championship. Teammate Elfyn Evans finished second in a dramatic one-two, with Toyota extending its dominance and Ogier eyeing a ninth world title.
Image: Supplied / Motorsport TGR / Toyota South Africa Motors
Toyota Gazoo Racing enjoyed a landmark weekend in Chile as Sébastien Ogier clinched victory ahead of teammate Elfyn Evans, giving the team its 103rd win in the World Rally Championship (WRC) – more than any other manufacturer – and equalling its 30th one-two finish.
Ogier strikes again
For Ogier, it was a rally of milestones. In his 200th WRC event, alongside co-driver Vincent Landais, he celebrated his 66th career victory, his second in South America in as many weeks. By topping both the Super Sunday classification and the Power Stage, he secured maximum points to move back into the championship lead with three events to go.
“I’m very happy to take another win in South America and to also come away with the maximum points this time: I think they are well deserved after the ones we lost because of the weather in Paraguay,” Ogier said.
“To take the lead of the championship with three rallies to go is definitely positive too. I’m also very happy for everybody at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing that we could achieve this record win.”
Changing weather conditions, flipping between rain and drying roads, proved challenging for the drivers.
Image: Supplied / Motorsport TGR / Toyota South Africa Motors
Team battle in Chile
Ogier and Evans swapped the lead repeatedly through the forests of Chile’s Biobío region, with rain and drying roads turning the rally into a rollercoaster. Evans seized an early advantage, only to lose ground when the surface conditions shifted.
He fought back strongly in Saturday’s downpours but couldn’t quite hold off Ogier’s late charge.
“I think we paid a big price for being first on the road on Friday afternoon but otherwise I think we’ve done a really solid job,” Evans admitted. “Of course I would have liked to fight Seb harder over the last day or so but he is always very strong and tough to beat. Well done to him, as well as the team on a record win for Toyota.”
Only 6.3 seconds separated the pair going into the final day. Ogier then produced a decisive run through the penultimate stage before sealing the result in the Power Stage.
Eyeing the bigger prize
Ogier, who has now taken five wins and three further podiums this season, highlighted the support behind the team’s momentum: “Thanks to our Chairman, Akio Toyoda, for the great support that means we can keep pushing the limits for better.
“We can be very proud of what we’ve achieved so far and I’m sure that we can keep adding to these great numbers in the coming rallies.”
Rally legend Sébastien Loeb, asked about Ogier’s title charge, said: “He’s right, I would probably do the same in his place. He sees that he’s still in the game, he’s still having fun. He’s in the fight for the championship, so I understand that he wants to go all the way, so he’s right. We’ll follow that!”
Other results
Behind the Toyota front-runners, Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen recovered from an early setback to finish sixth and stay within 21 points of the title lead. Sami Pajari impressed in fifth, Takamoto Katsuta ended seventh, and Oliver Solberg secured the WRC2 championship with victory in his GR Yaris Rally2.