The recently concluded WRC Rally Chile Bio Bio 2024, held from September 26 to 29, lived up to its promise of excitement and fierce competition. It was an action-packed weekend marked by intense competition, fluctuating weather, and dramatic moments on the treacherous Chilean roads. Heavy morning fog and torrential rains created challenging conditions for the drivers, testing their skill and resilience. The stunning South American landscape provided the backdrop for a showdown between the world’s top rally drivers, with Estonian Ott Tänak making significant progress in his pursuit of the 2024 championship title, while Belgium’s Thierry Neuville continued to fight to maintain his lead.
Tänak Shines, Neuville Holds Steady
Ott Tänak, driving for M-Sport Ford alongside co-driver Martin Järveoja, delivered a commendable performance, finishing third overall with a total time of 2:59:43.7. This result allowed Tänak to reduce the points gap between him and the championship leader, Thierry Neuville. Neuville, paired with co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe, still leads the standings with 207 points, but Tänak’s 178 points, after Chile, leave the championship race wide open as the season progresses.
Neuville’s Fourth-place finish in Chile added valuable points to his campaign, but Tänak’s third-place finish, combined with his determination and pace, suggests the Estonian is not backing down in his bid to claim the WRC title.
Sébastien Ogier’s Comeback
France’s Sébastien Ogier faced significant challenges over the weekend. Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais had their hopes dashed on Saturday morning when a broken driving shaft forced them out of the competition near the end of Stage 8. However, Ogier returned to action on Sunday, showing incredible resilience to score maximum points in the Wolf Power Stage. Despite the setback, Ogier’s performance helped him climb to 166 points, leaving him third in the overall standings and still a contender as the championship nears its climax.
Rovanperä Triumphs as Evans Pushes
While Tänak and Neuville fought for championship points, it was Finland’s Kalle Rovanperä who claimed the ultimate victory in Chile. Together with co-driver Jonne Halttunen, Rovanperä topped the podium with an overall time of 2:58:59.8, securing valuable points and solidifying his position as a key player in the WRC. Elfyn Evans, the Welsh driver, finished just behind Rovanperä in second place, clocking in at 2:59:23.2 with co-driver Scott Martin.
WRC2 and WRC3 Highlights
In the WRC2 category, Citroën C3 teams dominated the event. Yohan Rossel and co-driver Florian Barral took the top spot with a time of 3:07:31.2, followed by their teammates Nikolay Gryazin and Konstantin Aleksandrov, who finished just 17.3 seconds behind at 3:07:48.5. The performance of the Citroën team was a highlight of the weekend, showcasing their strength in the WRC2 class.
In WRC3, Diego Dominguez and Rogelio Peñate delivered a strong performance, claiming victory in their category and further elevating their reputation as rising stars in the rally world.
Rising Stars: Pajari and Sesks
In the battle further down the field, Finnish driver Sami Pajari showed great promise with a solid sixth-place finish. Meanwhile, Latvian driver Mārtiņš Sesks managed to finish 24th overall. Both drivers are emerging talents in the sport and continue to gain experience in the highly competitive WRC environment.
Championship Standings Tighten
With only a few rounds remaining in the 2024 WRC season, the fight for the championship is becoming more intense. Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe remain in the lead with 207 points, but Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja are now within striking distance at 178 points. Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, despite their struggles in Chile, hold third place with 166 points. As the championship heads toward its final stages, the next few rallies will be crucial in determining the 2024 WRC champion. Ott Tänak’s resilience in Chile proves that the title race is far from over, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the season
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