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Adrien Fourmaux Seizes WRC Rally Chile Lead as Title Hopeful Ott Tanak Faces Shocking Retirement

Harry Stone by Harry Stone
September 13, 2025
in Motorsports, WRC
Reading Time: 3 mins read
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Adrien Fourmaux Seizes WRC Rally Chile Lead as Title Hopeful Ott Tanak Faces Shocking Retirement

Adrien Fourmaux (FRA) Alexandre Coria (FRA) Of Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team are seen performing during the World Rally Championship Chile in Conception, Chile on 12,September, 2025 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202509120872 // Usage for editorial use only //

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Adrien Fourmaux Seizes Control at WRC Rally Chile as Ott Tanak Faces Disastrous Retirement!

In a breathtaking turn of events at the World Rally Championship in Chile, Adrien Fourmaux has catapulted himself into the lead, leaving fans gasping as title contender Ott Tanak faces an unexpected exit due to a suspected engine failure! This thrilling Friday afternoon saw Fourmaux take the reins of the rally, edging ahead of his Hyundai teammate Thierry Neuville after Tanak’s dramatic misfortune struck during stage six.

Fourmaux, riding high on adrenaline, now holds a slender one-second advantage over Neuville, who showcased an impressive recovery following a frustrating morning plagued by handling issues. Meanwhile, Toyota’s Sébastien Ogier clawed his way into the mix, securing third place just 2.3 seconds behind, while championship leader Elfyn Evans experienced a shocking drop, slipping to fifth place and trailing by a hefty 13.1 seconds.

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“I can only be pleased because I think it is the first time we are leading a rally at the end of the first day so it is positive for us,” Fourmaux expressed with palpable excitement. “But it is a shame for Ott. It would be nice to be 1-2-3 tonight, but tomorrow is going to be a different day, so let’s see.”

The rally’s opening stages were marred by damp conditions that initially favored those leading the road. However, the tables turned as the afternoon sun dried out Chile’s treacherous gravel tracks, creating a chaotic environment for those at the front, who struggled with loose gravel.

Evans briefly held a 0.5-second lead but quickly found himself in trouble, losing a staggering 8.9 seconds in stage four as Tanak soared to the top, posting the third-fastest time and establishing a commanding 6.9-second lead over Evans. But just as the Estonian seemed poised for victory, disaster struck!

Tanak’s remarkable run came to an abrupt halt when his Hyundai i20 N suffered a suspected engine failure after a jarring impact just 5.6 kilometers into the demanding 23.32-kilometer San Rosendo 2 stage. Forced to retire and park on the roadside, he relinquished control of the rally to Fourmaux.

“We don’t have too much information,” said Hyundai technical director Francois-Xavier Demaison. “Ott called on the radio to say it was an engine failure. We will have to wait for the car to come back to service and analyze what happened. We will try to get him out tomorrow as he only lost one stage, and many things can still happen.”

Tanak’s misfortune ignited a fierce battle for the top spot as Fourmaux clung desperately to his lead while Neuville, who had labeled his car a “nightmare” earlier in the day, surged back into contention after significant adjustments during the midday service.

“It was a way better afternoon but still far from good, honestly,” Neuville reflected. “The road conditions are cleaning up, and when it’s a clean line, I can drive the car, but when it’s loose, there’s no trust there. A very challenging day but it ended on a positive note. Unfortunately, I don’t know what happened to Ott, but I saw the car parked on the side; it’s very unfortunate for him.”

As the drama unfolded, Sébastien Ogier, the eight-time world champion, rebounded from a lackluster morning performance, clinching the fastest time in stage six and finishing the day just 2.3 seconds from the lead. Evans, on the other hand, labeled his afternoon a “big struggle” but managed to maintain fifth place behind his teammate Sami Pajari, who dazzled the crowd with a fastest time in stage four.

Takamoto Katsuta found his rhythm in the afternoon loop, finishing sixth with a 41-second gap, while M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster showcased a stronger performance in his Ford Puma. The two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä, however, battled back from a setback that saw him lose over a minute after knocking a tire off the rim.

The day concluded with WRC2 leader Oliver Solberg and M-Sport’s Josh McEelean rounding out the top ten. Solberg’s championship aspirations were bolstered by the retirements of rivals Yohan Rossel and Gus Greensmith, both facing mechanical issues. Yet, the pressure mounts as Nikolay Gryazin remains a strong contender, trailing Solberg by only 10.4 seconds.

As the teams prepare for an exhilarating Saturday, a total of six stages comprising 139.20 kilometers loom ahead. Will Fourmaux maintain his lead, or will the tides of fortune turn yet again in this gripping rally saga? Stay tuned!

Tags: 2025-toyota-usa-track-and-field-championships2025-world-rally-championshipAdrien Fourmauxhyundai-bossott-tanak-2Thierry Neuville
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