Lead extended: Toyota driver Solberg on course for victory at Rally Chile

Solberg, in his first year as a full-time driver in the Rally1 category, is on the verge of his third World Championship round victory following his triumphs in Estonia in 2025 and at this year’s Monte Carlo Rally. Four challenging special stages totalling 71.2 kilometres stand between the 24-year-old and victory.

The blond-haired driver admitted, however, that he does not intend to play it safe on Sunday in order to win. With his World Championship ambitions in mind, he is keen to pick up vital bonus points and is particularly looking forward to the final Power Stage.

A la recherche du temps perdu: Sebastien Ogier

Foto: Red Bull

The Rally Chile suits Solberg particularly well, as last year he won it in the WRC2 category, thereby securing the World Championship title early, together with his co-driver Eliott Edmondson in the Toyota Yaris Rally2.

Ahead of Saturday’s six special stages, Solberg, Evans, Ogier and Adrien Fourmaux were bunched closely together.

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Rallye Chile: Powerstage

FIA World Rally Championship

13.09.2026 - 18:00

Ogier began a comeback in the morning with the fastest times on the first two special stages. Solberg won the third special stage before the midday service and held a 10.1-second lead over World Championship leader Evans. Hyundai driver Fourmaux was 18.1 seconds behind, whilst reigning world champion Ogier trailed by 20 seconds.

Gestern im Regen, heute im Sand: Elfyn Evans

Foto: Red Bull

The second half of the day mirrored the morning’s results, with Ogier winning two special stages and Solberg one.

Ogier managed to overtake Fourmaux on SS10. Fourmaux’s strategy was to make up crucial time on SS12, the longest special stage of the rally.

The Frenchman opted for three soft-compound tyres and just one hard-compound tyre – but the risk backfired. Fourmaux lost 8.2 seconds to Ogier on this special stage and ended the day 10.7 seconds behind. Damage to the front splitter also contributed to the time loss.

Adrien Fourmaux: Podiumsplatz im Visier

Foto: Hyundai

Ogier suddenly began to put pressure on Evans, who started the day’s final special stage with a lead of just 0.3 seconds.

However, the Welshman managed to fend off Ogier’s attack and beat his team-mate by one second on SS12. He therefore heads into Sunday with a lead of 1.3 seconds.

Rally leader Solberg, on the other hand, drove the final stage on Saturday superbly and won it by a margin of 3.7 seconds, largely thanks to time gained on the final downhill section.

Hyundai-Teilzeitfahrer Esapekka Lappi mit Blick nach vorne

Foto: Hyundai

Toyota’s young driver Sami Pajari lies in fifth place, 44.4 seconds behind fourth-placed Fourmaux.

The Finn Esapekka Lappi (Hyundai) finished in sixth place ahead of Josh McErlean in the M-Sport Ford.

The WRC2 leader is Yohan Rossel (Lancia), who holds a 58-second lead over the championship leader, Skoda driver Robert Virves.

Lancia-Pilot Yohan Rossel: In der WRC2 vorne

Foto: Red Bull

Former world champion Thierry Neuville retired after rolling his Hyundai on the very first special stage of the day. The Belgian will not be starting on Sunday.

Five rally teams were involved in serious accidents on Friday. For the most part, the occupants escaped with only minor injuries. Only Topi Luhtinen, the co-driver of

Yuki Yamamoto from Toyota’s WRC Challenge Programme, remains in hospital following a back injury and necessary surgery.