Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans have once again demonstrated the relentless pace and precision of TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT), securing a historic one-two finish at Rally Chile and cementing Toyota’s place at the pinnacle of the FIA World Rally Championship.
The victory marks Toyota’s 103rd WRC triumph, the most by any manufacturer in the sport’s history, and ties the record for the 30th one-two finish, underscoring the team’s enduring dominance. For Ogier, it was an extraordinary personal milestone: his 200th WRC event, yielding his 66th career win, and his second consecutive triumph on South American soil alongside co-driver Vincent Landais. By topping both the Super Sunday classification and the Power Stage, Ogier secured the maximum haul of points and assumed the lead in the drivers’ championship, with just three rallies remaining this season. Meanwhile, TGR-WRT has expanded its manufacturers’ championship advantage to 125 points, a commanding buffer as the title race nears its climax.
Rally Chile proved to be a true test of skill and adaptability, with the forests of the Biobío region delivering constantly shifting conditions. Early rain neutralised the usual road-cleaning advantage, allowing Evans to seize the lead on the opening morning. However, as the tracks dried, he slipped to fifth, and Ogier began his methodical ascent to the front. Saturday brought further drama: Evans thrived in the heavy rain to reclaim first, only for Ogier to strike back with three consecutive stage victories in the afternoon.
Entering the final day, the top two were separated by a mere 6.3 seconds. The opening stages saw the pair split victories, but a blistering penultimate stage run and a decisive push in the Power Stage allowed Ogier to pull clear and secure the championship points lead. Across eight starts this season, Ogier and Landais have amassed five wins and three additional podiums, underscoring their consistency and tactical acumen. Evans and co-driver Scott Martin capped the rally with second place overall and third on Super Sunday, sitting just two points behind Ogier in the drivers’ standings.
The fight for the championship remained wide open, with Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen maintaining contention despite an unfortunate wide moment on Friday that cost them over a minute. The pair recovered to finish sixth overall, third on Super Sunday, and fifth in the Power Stage, keeping their title hopes alive at just 21 points from the lead.
TGR-WRT’s strength extended deep into the field. Sami Pajari impressed in his first full Rally1 season, finishing fifth with co-driver Marko Salminen, a mere 4.4 seconds from fourth, while Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the GR YARIS Rally1 contingent in the top seven, narrowly missing a top-five Power Stage finish by 0.1 seconds.
The rally also witnessed a crowning moment in WRC2, where Oliver Solberg and Elliott Edmondson claimed the title aboard their GR Yaris Rally2. Solberg has dominated WRC2 this season, winning five of seven points-scoring rounds and even triumphing outright at Rally Estonia on his Rally1 debut. The GR Yaris Rally2 has now captured back-to-back WRC2 championships in its first two seasons, following in the footsteps of last year’s champion Pajari.
Rally Chile showcased TGR-WRT’s depth, skill, and strategic mastery, delivering both milestones and memories. With Ogier now leading the drivers’ championship and the team enjoying a commanding manufacturers’ advantage, Toyota continues to set the benchmark for performance, resilience, and excellence in the WRC arena.
