Ogier needs «reset” after costly WRC Central Europe exit
Sebastien Ogier says he needs a “reset” after a third consecutive incident cost Toyota valuable points in its bid to defend the World Rally Championship manufacturers’ title. The eight-time world champion was in the box seat to deliver a fourth victory from his partial campaign at the Central European Rally, having ended Saturday with 18 […]
Benched Katsuta sets goals for WRC return at Central European Rally
Takamoto Katsuta has set out goals after being benched by Toyota for Rally Chile, as he prepares for his World Rally Championship return at next week’s Central European Rally. Katsuta rejoins Toyota’s line-up after it temporarily dropped its full-time driver for the visit to Chile last month following a rough run of results. After undergoing […]
Toyota encouraged for future after Pajari’s WRC Chile drive
Sami Pajari remains part of Toyota’s discussions regarding its 2025 World Rally Championship driver plans after the Finn impressed management at Rally Chile. Pajari was handed a surprise second career Rally1 outing with the Japanese brand at last weekend’s gravel round in South America in place of regular driver Takamoto Katsuta, who will rejoin the […]
Toyota ‘back in the fight’ for WRC title after Rally Chile
Toyota World Rally Championship boss Jari-Matti Latvala says it’s a “big relief” for his team to be back in the manufacturers’ title fight after dominating Rally Chile. Latvala had all but written off the team’s title hopes after a difficult Acropolis Rally Greece earlier this month left Toyota facing a 35-point deficit with three rounds […]
Evans rues unfortunate WRC Chile “double whammy”
Elfyn Evans has explained how he paid the price for an unfortunate “double whammy” of events that resulted in losing the Rally Chile lead to Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovanpera. Evans had enjoyed one of the strongest Saturday mornings of the season, winning two of the three stages to open up an 11.3s lead over reigning […]
Kalle Rovanperä leads as thick fog shuffles the order
Kalle Rovanpera moved ahead of Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans to lead Rally Chile as thick fog turned the fight for the World Rally Championship victory on its head. The reigning world champion started Saturday in third but emerged through treacherous weather and incredibly poor visibility to head overnight leader Evans by 15.1 seconds going into […]
Ogier concedes WRC title run is over after Chile retirement
Sebastien Ogier believes his bid for a record-equalling ninth World Rally Championship title is over after retiring from Rally Chile. The Toyota driver headed into the final gravel round of the season 38 points adrift of championship leader, Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, having emerged as a serious title contender after winning Rally Finland in August. Ogier’s […]
WRC Chile: Elfyn Evans leads Rovanperä
Elfyn Evans claimed two of the three Saturday morning stages to extend his Rally Chile lead as reigning world champion Kalle Rovanperä emerged as his nearest rival. Evans, who was handed a three-second overnight lead following a change to his notional stage one time, completed a trio of abrasive gravel stages with a 11.3s margin […]
Ogier retires after hitting rock in stage eight
Sebastien Ogier’s World Rally Championship title hopes have suffered a blow after retiring from Rally Chile on stage eight. The eight-time world champion hit a rock with the front-right wheel of his GR Yaris, 400 metres from the finish of stage eight (Lota, 25.6km). Ogier hit the rock on the entry to a slow left-hander […]