At least, if his past two performances in Chile are anything to go by. During his championship-winning season in 2019, Tänak took first place with Toyota, finishing ahead of Sebastien Ogier and Sebastien Loeb. Last year, he once again conquered Rally Chile, this time behind the wheel of a Hyundai.
Tänak emphasises that after the gruelling Acropolis Rally in Greece, Rally Chile will be all about performance. On the Chilean gravel roads, drivers can push hard, though tyre management will still be crucial.
“The last time we were in Chile, the roads were very abrasive, which was challenging for tyre management but not so hard on the car,” Tänak describes.
“At the same time, it was quite demanding for the drivers with a mix of fast and slow sections – similar to Finland. There is a bit of everything in this event, but it’s a driver’s rally – it’s all about performance.”
The weather near the Pacific coast can also change quickly. However, as of now, the forecasts for the Biobio region don’t show any significant rain.
In the championship battle, Tänak is the closest threat to his teammate Thierry Neuville heading into Rally Chile. The gap, however, is a hefty 34 points in Neuville’s favour, meaning the Belgian would need to face some setbacks for Tänak to still have a chance at the title.
“In Chile, the weather can be a tricky element, particularly as we have had a lot of difficult conditions. The car needs to be performing very well and needs to be giving us good confidence. We need to do our maximum and target a win there for sure,” Tänak concludes.
