Fourmaux takes WRC Rally Chile lead as engine woes halt Tanak

Adrien Fourmaux claimed the lead of WRC Rally Chile after engine issues for Hyundai teammate Ott Tanak on Friday’s final stage handed the Frenchman a slender 1.0s advantage over Thierry Neuville.

Fourmaux (above) inherited the top spot when Tanak stopped his i20 N Rally1 just 3.5 miles into the day's longest test, 14.5-mile San Rosnedo 2. That ended what had been a commanding performance from the Estonian, who’d built an advantage of nearly 10s following a dominant afternoon loop on the FIA World Rally Championship’s concluding event of its all-gravel South American double-header.

Two-time Rally Chile winner Tanak had previously turned the rally on its head after the mid-leg service halt, capitalizing on the cleaner road conditions (relatively speaking) to win the afternoon’s opening pair of stages and overhaul WRC points leader Elfyn Evans' morning advantage. 

Hyundai’s Ott Tanak (above) bossed Rally Chile’s opening leg before an engine issue gave the lead to teammate Adrien Fourmaux. Getty Images

“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 but it is a shame for Ott," said Fourmaux, who’s chasing down his first-ever WRC victory. “Tomorrow is going to be a different day, so let’s see.”

Reigning WRC champ Neuville finished the day second in a Hyundai 1-2 after major setup changes between loops transformed his afternoon. The Belgian had struggled in the morning, but found his rhythm as conditions dried, describing his car as “way better,” despite admitting he was, "still far from good.”

Sebastien Ogier delivered the day's standout individual performance with a stunning win on the closing stage, beating Neuville by 3.1s and climbing from fifth to third overall in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Making his 200th WRC start this week, the eight-time WRC champ was another to make midday setup adjustments after a muted morning. 

“I kept pushing all day and this morning I was already on the limit, and in this last stage I cannot do more,” said Ogier, who trails Fourmaux by just 2.3s heading into Saturday. With the 41-year-old Frenchman targeting a ninth WRC crown and just nine points off the WRC lead heading into Chile, expect his charge to continue on Saturday.

A charging Sebastien Ogier sits third overall, best of the Toyotas and just 2.3s off the rally lead. Red Bull Content Pool

Evans, running first on the road in his GR Yaris by dint of his WRC points lead, endured a torrid afternoon as he played unwitting road sweeper for the cars behind. The Welshman had held a slim lead after the morning’s damp and more compacted loop, but dropped to fifth position by the day’s end as the drier afternoon conditions loosened the top surface. As well as Ogier, he was overtaken by another Toyota teammate, Sami Pajari, on the last test and trailed the Finn by 1.9s overnight.

“This afternoon has been a big struggle," admitted Evans after shipping 14.2s on the final stage alone. "I couldn't control the rear at all.”

Starting first on the road didn’t hinder Elfyn Evans in the morning loop, but as conditions changed in the afternoon, the Toyota driver struggled. Red Bull Content Pool

Takamoto Katsuta held sixth despite struggling with his Toyota's balance, while Gregoire Munster placed seventh for M-Sport Ford after recovering from a broken gear linkage in his Puma Rally1 in the morning.

Kalle Rovanpera's championship hopes suffered a setback as the defending Chile winner languished in eighth in the fifth of the factory Toyotas, more than a minute behind the leader. The two-time WRC champ had come to Chile just seven points back from Evans in the title race, but his day was ruined by an un-beaded tire after he ran wide and hit a bank in the morning, although he showed encouraging pace once conditions improved.

“Obviously I'm disappointed that it ended our good chances for today,” said Rovanpera. "Finally we had some good pace on this kind of [gravel] road and that has not been the case probably ever this year.”

In WRC2, the second tier of international rallying, Oliver Solberg is on course to claim the title in Chile. The Swede leads the class by 10.4s in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 over title rival Nikolay Gryazin’s Skoda Fabia RS.

The two other drivers with a realistic WRC2 title shot, Yohan Rossel and Gus Greensmith, saw their championship chances take sizable hits on Friday afternoon, with an oil leak after an impact forcing Rossel’s Citroen C3 out of the rally and an engine issue in Greensmith’s Skoda sidelining the British driver on the penultimate stage.

Oliver Solberg built a handy WRC2 class lead in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 as his main rivals faltered. Getty Images

Saturday’s second leg could see further shakeups, with heavy overnight rain expected in the vicinity of the day’s six special stages totaling 86.5 miles of competitive action.

WRC Rally Chile, positions after Friday/Leg One, SS6
1 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 57m48.5s
2 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +1.0s
3 Sebastien Ogier/Vincent Landais (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +2.3s
4 Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +11.2s
5 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +13.1s
6 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +41.0s

7 Gregoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) +49.8s
8 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m05.0s
9 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – WRC2 leader) +2m27.4s
10 Josh McErlean/Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) +2m35.7s
 

• Watch the rally-closing, bonus points-paying Wolf Power Stage action from Rally Chile LIVE on the RACER+ App and RACER Network on Sunday, Sept. 14, noon-1:30 p.m. ET. 

Plus, for a deeper dive into the FIA World Rally Championship, check out the WRC Magazine Show on RACER Network. Catch the latest episode on Saturday, Sept. 13, at 4:30 a.m. ET.  

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