The team had struggled in the previous two rallies, allowing Hyundai to open up a 35-point lead in the manufacturers’ championship. However, in Chile, Toyota made a perfect comeback.
Toyota collected the maximum 55 points in the manufacturers’ title fight, achieving a 1-2 finish with Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans. Additionally, Sebastien Ogier and Rovanperä delivered full points on Super Sunday for the Japanese manufacturer.
Hyundai, meanwhile, took home 37 points from Chile, with Ott Tänak finishing third and Thierry Neuville fourth. This reduced Hyundai’s lead over Toyota in the manufacturers’ standings to just 17 points, setting up a tight battle for the title as the season heads to its final rounds.
In the drivers’ championship, Neuville still holds a solid lead, though Tänak managed to close the gap by five points. The Belgian’s lead is now 29 points with two rounds remaining.
Neuville has faced challenges with his first starting position in gravel events, but he may benefit from leading the way in the upcoming tarmac rallies in Central Europe and Japan at the season’s end.
Toyota driver Ogier’s hopes of a drivers’ title were effectively ended after his retirement in Chile on Saturday. While he still has a mathematical chance, the 41-point gap to Neuville seems insurmountable.
Check out the full WRC standings here!
The WRC battle continues in three weeks at the Central European Rally, held across Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria.
