WRC Preview: Rally Chile Bio Bio 2026
The World Rally Championship (WRC) does not get much time to catch its breath this week. Just days after the gravel roads of Paraguay delivered the opening chapter of the WRC’s South American double-header, the championship heads west for the second and final leg of its continental visit, Rally Chile Bio Bío.
Round 12 of the 2026 season takes crews from Paraguay’s unpredictable stages to the foggy forests that surround Concepción. Faster roads, greater elevation changes, and a very different relationship with weather await. The two rallies may share a continent and a gravel surface, but Chile presents a distinctly different challenge.
Only three rounds remain after Chile, where Toyota holds a commanding 173-point lead and has strong potential to extend it for the manufacturers’ title this weekend.
Sami Pajari’s Rally Paraguay win completes his run of three straight victories, tightening the fight at the front of the drivers’ standings, and leaving Elfyn Evans with a smaller 20-point advantage over his Toyota teammate heading into Chile.
From Paraguay to Chile
Crossing the Andes and settling in around Concepción is a logistical feat which the teams have had just one week to complete, all to get in good shape for the rally’s start.
The roads around Biobío are generally faster and more flowing than at Rally Paraguay; however, their narrow nature is one of the hurdles drivers must manoeuvre. Compact gravel can give way to loose material away from the main racing line, while rain can turn sections muddy.
Coastal fog can cut visibility, while muddy sections on rainy days are notorious for throwing a spanner in the works, making precision in the pace notes as important as outright speed.
As mentioned above, Chile is potentially a championship-defining weekend for Toyota. But the individual fight is arguably even more intriguing. Evans remains at the top of the drivers’ standings, with Pajari closely behind after three consecutive victories.
Oliver Solberg sits third, 41 points from the lead, while Takamoto Katsuta is another 15 points behind. Meanwhile, Sébastien Ogier returns to successful grounds for him after winning in Chile in 2025. The nine-time WRC champion sits 68 points off the title lead.
Pajari arrives in Chile with momentum on his side. His recent winning streak has brought him firmly into the title conversation. Another strong result could turn the final three rounds into a much more open contest. For Ogier, the objective is to replicate the speed and consistency that delivered victory here last year.
“We have been on a really nice run lately, and I hope Rally Chile can be good for us as well,” said Pajari in his official look at the weekend ahead.
“It is a rally I know quite well now, as I’ve done it twice already in the Rally1 car, and it’s one of my favourites because of the profile of the stages. Some of them are pretty similar to Finland: really fast and flowing, with some really nice camber that helps you take more speed through the corners.
“It can also be pretty challenging, with high tyre wear, and the weather can change really quickly. Like in Paraguay, the fans are very passionate, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Hyundai are aiming to turn their strong Paraguay weekend into another challenge for victory.
The team left the previous round with Hayden Paddon in second and Adrien Fourmaux closely behind in third. Chile now provides an opportunity to prove that the pace shown in Paraguay can survive a change in road characteristics.
Fourmaux spoke positively on his aim for the rally weekend: “I’m really looking forward to Rally Chile after showing very strong pace throughout the weekend in Paraguay — it gives us confidence, and hopefully we can carry this performance into Chile,” he said.
“It’s a rally I really enjoy. Last year we were fighting at the front, and we finished on the podium. The stages are fast and flowing, but also quite technical, so you need a lot of precision and confidence in the car. We know we were competitive there last year, and after the performance we had in Paraguay, the target is to fight at the front again and push for the best possible result.”
Each team and its drivers all approach Chile as a chance to spar with their rivals for a multitude of reasons: to achieve victory, close gaps, or even to prove pace potential.
Rally Chile contains 16 stages and 311.18 kilometres of competitive running over a largely revised route. Friday has received the biggest overhaul, while Sunday's schedule introduces the new Carampangue stage alongside the returning Bio Bío Power Stage. Saturday remains the longest day, with 139.2 kilometres against the clock.
Edited by Vyas Ponnuri
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