Kalle Rovanperä dramatically took control of Rally Chile Bío Bío on Saturday, capitalizing on heavy fog that disrupted Elfyn Evans’ dominant run and shook up the leaderboard heading into the final day.
The 23-year-old Finn, driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing, now leads his teammate Evans by 15.1 seconds, after a day filled with treacherous weather conditions that played a crucial role in reshaping the battle for victory.
Evans Dominates Morning Stages, but Fog Turns the Tables
Evans, who had commanded the rally on Friday and carried his momentum into Saturday morning, delivered an exceptional performance, winning three of the day’s first four stages. By mid-day, he had extended his lead to 13.6 seconds, appearing well on his way to his first World Rally Championship (WRC) win since Japan last year.
However, the penultimate Lota stage turned the rally on its head. Thick fog blanketed the mountainous terrain, reducing visibility to near zero. As the last of the frontrunners to tackle the stage, Evans faced the worst of the deteriorating conditions, forcing him to slow down significantly. Rovanperä, running earlier, was able to navigate the fog more efficiently and posted a time over 20 seconds faster than Evans, taking the rally lead.
The final stage of the day, María Las Cruces, saw similarly difficult conditions, and Rovanperä extended his advantage further, putting him in prime position for the victory heading into Sunday’s final leg.
“Those were some of the most challenging conditions I’ve ever faced,” Rovanperä said after the day’s final stage. “The fog was so thick, you’re just trying to keep the car on the road. It was crazy, but we managed to come through it.”
Evans, visibly frustrated, acknowledged the struggle. “It was tough out there,” he explained. “There were times when I couldn’t see past the bonnet of the car. There wasn’t much I could do other than just keep it safe.”
Tänak in Third, Ogier Falls Out of Contention
While the battle between Rovanperä and Evans dominated headlines, Hyundai’s Ott Tänak kept himself in the hunt, sitting 33.6 seconds off the lead in third place. The Estonian, who had previously won every WRC round held in Chile, overcame a challenging Friday and remained a podium contender as he eyes another strong finish.
Meanwhile, Sébastien Ogier’s hopes of securing a ninth WRC title took a hit after a dramatic setback. The Frenchman was forced to retire from contention after striking a rock on SS8, breaking a steering arm bolt on his Toyota and effectively ending his weekend. Ogier had been in great form, challenging for the lead before the unfortunate incident.
Neuville Climbs the Standings, Fourmaux Charges Forward
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville staged a strong comeback on Saturday, moving up the leaderboard from sixth to fourth. While his chances of securing his first WRC drivers’ title in Chile have dimmed, Neuville remains well-positioned to complete the job at next month’s Central European Rally.
Adrien Fourmaux also had a remarkable day in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID. Despite being hampered by a one-minute penalty on Friday, the Frenchman climbed from eighth to fifth by day’s end, passing both his teammate Grégoire Munster and Toyota rookie Sami Pajari, who finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
Lappi Struggles, Gryazin and Greensmith Hold WRC2 Lead
It was a tough day for Esapekka Lappi, whose struggles continued with a two-minute time penalty for checking in early to SS11. Lappi ended the day in eighth overall, far from the podium positions.
In the WRC2 category, Nikolay Gryazin and Gus Greensmith maintained their lead, rounding out the overall top 10 heading into the final day.
The Final Showdown: Sunday’s Stages
The final leg of Rally Chile Bío Bío promises an exciting conclusion, with two stages, each run twice, adding up to 54.8 kilometers of competitive action. Rovanperä will aim to hold onto his lead, while Evans will look to bounce back and reclaim the top spot.
With challenging conditions expected to persist, the battle for victory remains wide open.
Saturday Classification:
- K. Rovanperä / J. Halttunen (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris – 2h 25m 14.3s
- E. Evans / S. Martin (GBR) Toyota GR Yaris – +15.1s
- O. Tänak / M. Järveoja (EST) Hyundai i20 N – +33.6s
- T. Neuville / M. Wydaeghe (BEL) Hyundai i20 N – +43.7s
- A. Fourmaux / A. Coria (FRA) Ford Puma – +1m 23.0s
- S. Pajari / E. Mälkönen (FIN) Toyota GR Yaris – +1m 49.5s
Source: WRC
This article was crafted with assistance from Chatgpt
