Solberg leads, Katsuta out: A turbulent start to the World Rally Championship in Chile

What a turbulent start in Chile: the forecast overnight rain carried on into the morning. Misty conditions and numerous large puddles made the already demanding stages in Chile even more treacherous. Consequently, it was a very close contest at the top – and the lead has already changed hands several times.

Solberg got off to the best start. In the opening stage, the Swede took the lead with a 1.4-second advantage over Evans and the two Hyundai drivers. World Championship leader Evans struck back on the second special stage: the Toyota driver took 1.8 seconds off Solberg and, in turn, took the lead with a 0.4-second advantage.

Hyundai-Pilot Adrien Fourmaux auf Platz drei

Foto: Red Bull

But the situation changed again on the third special stage. Thierry Neuville set the fastest time, whilst Solberg was also quicker than Evans. The Welshman lost 2.7 seconds to his team-mate and had to relinquish the lead once more. After three special stages, Solberg now leads Evans by 3.6 seconds.

Fourmaux had to contend with a technical problem on the second special stage, but managed to hold onto his position in the leading group. The Frenchman remains in third place, just ahead of his Hyundai team-mate Neuville.

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Sébastien Ogier rounds off the leading group in fifth place. The experienced Toyota driver remains within striking distance of the two Hyundai drivers. His team-mate Sam Pajari follows just behind.

A little further back are the two M-Sport Ford drivers, Josh McErlean and Jon Armstrong, in seventh and eighth places.

Große Rallye-Begeisterung in der Pazifik-Metropole Concepcion

Foto: Red Bull

For Takamoto Katsuta, however, the morning came to an early end. The Toyota driver, who had set the fastest time in the shakedown and has already celebrated two victories this season, went off the road just under six kilometres into the first special stage, Turguia, and crashed into an embankment.

The front of his Yaris was badly damaged as a result. For Katsuta, the crash meant the end of the first day of competition.

The Japanese driver was competing in Chile for the first time with his new co-driver, James Fulton. Regular co-driver Aaron Johnston is absent after breaking his collarbone in Katsuta’s serious crash in Paraguay.

In the WRC2 standings, Lancia works driver Nikolay Gryazin leads ahead of championship leader Robert Virves (Škoda).