Kalle Rovanperä Conquers Rally Chile: Toyota Driver Clinches Fourth Victory of 2024 WRC Season in Treacherous Conditions

Kalle Rovanperä delivered a masterclass at Rally Chile, securing his fourth win of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season on Sunday. The reigning WRC champion overcame dense fog and treacherous gravel roads to outpace teammate Elfyn Evans by 23.4 seconds, showcasing Toyota’s dominance once again.

Piloting his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Rovanperä initially struggled with the Chilean terrain on Friday, admitting that the conditions didn’t suit his driving style. However, the 23-year-old Finn found his rhythm as the rally progressed, with the turning point coming on Saturday afternoon when he navigated through near-zero visibility in the high mountain stages, overtaking Evans and securing a 15.1-second lead heading into the final leg.

Despite the pressure, Rovanperä remained calm on Sunday, extending his lead in the difficult conditions to clinch his 15th career WRC victory.

“It feels really good,” Rovanperä said after his victory. “Big thanks to the team—the car and everything worked perfectly. Friday was tough, but the win feels even sweeter after such challenging conditions all weekend.”

Ott Tänak completed the podium for Hyundai Motorsport, trailing Evans by 20.5 seconds. Although Tänak secured a solid result, Hyundai lost ground in the manufacturers’ championship as Toyota reduced the gap to just 17 points with two rounds remaining.

Thierry Neuville, the championship leader, finished fourth in a relatively trouble-free run. His result moves him closer to clinching his first drivers’ title, as he now holds a 29-point lead with two events left in the season.

For Sebastien Ogier, hopes of a ninth WRC title have all but evaporated. After striking a rock on Saturday and suffering suspension damage, Ogier rejoined on Sunday to claim crucial points in the powerstage, but his title chances are now slim.

M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux was the top finisher for the team in fifth, while rising star Sami Pajari impressed by finishing sixth in just his second Rally1 outing. Meanwhile, Esapekka Lappi had been on course for eighth place before a spin damaged his Hyundai’s radiator, forcing him to retire.

WRC2: Rossel Keeps Title Hopes Alive

In WRC2, Yohan Rossel secured victory ahead of Nikolay Gryazin after a late push from Gryazin on Sunday. A 10-second jump start penalty only added to the drama, but Rossel managed to hold on through the fog and mud to claim the win, keeping his WRC2 title hopes alive.

Oliver Solberg, who led early in the rally, was hindered by a costly wheel change on Saturday and could only manage fourth in class. Solberg, who has completed his maximum seven events in WRC2, will now anxiously await the results of the final two rounds to see if Rossel or Pajari can snatch the title from him.

WRC Heads to Europe for Central European Rally

As the WRC heads to the Central European Rally on October 17-20, the penultimate round of the season will be pivotal in both the drivers’ and manufacturers’ championships. With Neuville closing in on his first title and Hyundai clinging to their lead in the manufacturers’ race, the all-asphalt rally across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic promises to be a thrilling showdown.