Next week’s Rally Chile Biobio will see the battle for the FIA World Rally Championship overall title and a showdown between two promising youngsters.
Considered the eleventh round of the 13-event FIA WRC season, the third Rally Chile Biobio is the eighth and final gravel event of the current campaign.
Held in Chile’s beautiful Biobío region from September 26-29, the South American race is based in the Pacific-side port city of Concepción, with each stage taking place in the forests of the south.
The Chile Biobio Rally takes place during the second week of spring in the Southern Hemisphere, which means rain and cooler weather are possible.
But while temperatures may be cooler in Chile, the FIA WRC title race will be heating up as Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team’s Thierry Neuville looks to pull away from the chasing pack. Leading the pack are his team-mate Ott Tanak, the 2019 FIA WRC champion, and Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT’s Sebastien Ogier, who is battling for a ninth world title. And Toyota’s Elfyn Evans and M-Sport Ford World Rally Team’s Adrian Furmo, both of whom are up to 90 points from the season’s decisive third round, are still in the title frame.
The story of the Rally2 cars in FIA WRC2 is similar, with Oliver Solberg leading the provisional standings. The 22-year-old Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS driver from Sweden is three points ahead of three-time winner Sami Pajari in 2024. Pajari is a three-time winner in the category, but the 22-year-old Finn is focusing on his Rally1 power at the Rally Chile Biobío. This event will be his second appearance in the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid, following his stage-winning top-level debut at the Secto Rally Finland in August.
Latvia’s Martins Cesks is also considered a future world champion and returns to Rally1 level in Chile. The 25-year-old’s Ford Puma Rally1 will not be running with a standard plug-in hybrid system under new regulations this season, designed to make the FIA WRC’s headline class more accessible. However, Cesks’ Puma must carry the same weight in ballast as a full EV system and will not be eligible for manufacturers’ championship points.
Pirelli, the official tyre supplier of the FIA WRC, offers the soft compound Scorpion KX tyre as a first choice for cool, wet conditions, with a hard compound version as an optional tyre for warm, dry conditions. Rally1 teams will have access to up to 28 tyres, including four for shakedown.
Rally Chile Vivio Route Summary
The South American round of the FIA World Rally Championship follows a similar route to the 2023 edition, but with a new shakedown stage and adjustments to the Felun and Rota timed tests in stage 2 and Larraquete and Bio Bio in stage 3. The ceremonial start location has also changed, returning to Concepción in 2024 after being held in Los Angeles in 2023. Stage 1 consists of two loops of three stages covering a competitive distance of 112.76 km.
Friday’s stage, southeast of Concepción, is known for its fast pace compared to the rest of the route. Stage 2, south of Concepción, is the longest stage of the rally at 139.20km, while the Maria Las Cruces stage is the longest stage of the rally at 28.31km. The two loops of the three stages are considered more twisty than stages 1 and 3, and there is a fan-friendly rally village in Rota.
Also located south of Concepción, the event’s deciding stage 3 features two repeat stages in Larraquete and Bio Bio over a contested distance of 54.80km. The Bio Bio re-run with the Rally Village forms the Wolf stage, with the race starting at 13:00 local time. Rally Chile Bio Bio is a gravel-based rally known for its fast, winding forest roads that are generally smooth.
Rally Chile Biobio Rally Data
Stage distance: 306.76km
Total distance: 1239.23 km
Number of stages: 16
RALLY1 Competitor
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
After taking 1-2-3 places in the EKO Acropolis Rally earlier this month, Thierry Neuville He took part in the Rally Chile BioBío with the German national team and took the lead together with his teammate in the provisional points table for the FIA World Rally Championship. Ott Tanak Now his closest challenger in second place. Esapeca Rafi After competing for the team in Rally Finland, BioBio returns for a third time in the Rally Chile with the Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid.
M-Sport Ford WRT
Martin’s Cecus He returns to the British team’s line-up for his debut at the Chile Rally Biobio, driving a non-hybrid Ford Puma Rally 1. It will be his first time since the Latvian Tet Rally in July, when he missed out on a podium finish on the Power Stage. Adrian Furmo and Gregoire Munster The M-Sport flag will also be flown at the Rally Biobio in Chile, a race he won with former driver Ott Tänak in 2023.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
8 times world champion Sebastien Ogier – Currently third in the provisional drivers’ standings – leads the Toyota line alongside Chilean winner Calle Rovanpera. Elfyn Evans and Sami Pajari are also involved in the team’s challenge, with Pajari preparing for his second start at Rally 1 level.
Support Category
The competitive FIA WRC2 entry list includes the current points leaders. Oliver Solberg (Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS Rally2), Citroen C3 Rally2 pair Nikolai Gryazin and Johann Rosell (DG Sport Competition) and Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Jan Solans.
Chilean brothers Alberto and Pedro Heller Registered in a pair of Citroën C3 Rally2. Jorge Martinez (Skoda Fabia RS Rally 2) was born in the event’s host city, Concepción, and is an 11-time national champion.
Gus GreensmithThe player who finished runner-up to teammate Solberg in Chile last season is also in attendance. Cajetan CajetanovicParaguay’s three-time FIA European Rally Championship winner Fabrizio Saldivar.
Point leader Diego Dominguez The best driver to compete in the FIA WRC3 Championship in the Ford Fiesta Rally3. Renault Clio Rally3 driver. Jubani Rossi One of his opponents.
Media Information
Media Certification
Media accreditation for Rally Chile BioBío must be obtained in person by the accreditation pass holder at the accreditation desk located at: MDS Hotel Concepción, Calle A 809 Brisa del Sol, Concepción, BioBío.
Media Certification Open Hours
Tuesday, September 24: 14:00 – 20:00
Wednesday, September 25: 08:30 – 20:00
Thursday, September 26: 07:30 – 20:00
Friday, September 27: Available only upon request to the National Press Team
Media Center Location and Hours of Operation
The location of the Media Center is: MDS Hotel Concepción, Calle A 809 Brisa del Sol, Concepción, BioBío.
Media Center Operating Hours
Tuesday, September 24: 14:00 – 20:00
Wednesday, September 25: 08:30 – 20:00
Thursday, September 26: 08:00 – 20:00
Friday, September 27: 07:30 – 22:00
Saturday, September 28: 08:00 – 22:00
Sunday, September 29: 07:00 – 22:00
Media Activities and Opportunities
Wednesday, September 25th
17:00 Tabad Media Safety Briefing, mandatory for all Tabad media (Media Center)
Thursday, September 26th
09:01 – 11:00 Shakedown for P1 drivers and invited P2 drivers (Conuco, 6.79km)
11:01 – 12:30 Shakedown for drivers (Conuco, 6.79km)
12:31 – 14:00 Shakedown for P2, P3 and non-priority drivers (Conuco, 6.79km)
12:30 – 14:00 FIA WRC Media Pen for P1 and P2 drivers and P1 TP (Fan Zone in SP, Concepción)
17:40 – 18:20 Autograph session with all P1 crew members (Concepcion)
18:20 – 19:00 Crew meeting for FIA WRC invited crews and team representatives (Concepcion)
19:00 Commemoration ceremony begins (Concepcion)
Friday, September 27th
07:30 Start of Section 1 (Service Park, Concepcion)
19:30 FIA WRC Meet the Crews with P1 TPs and the top 3 drivers (Fan Zone in SP, Concepcíon)
Saturday, September 28th
08:05 Section 3 starts (Parme Park, Service Park, Concepción)
Approximately 20:00 FIA WRC Meet the Crews with P1 TPs and the top 3 drivers (Fan Zone in SP, Concepcíon)
Sunday, September 29th
07:00 Section 5 starts (Parme Park, Service Park, Concepción)
15:30 FIA press conference after the event (Fan Zone, Service Park, Concepción)
16:00 Podium Award Ceremony and Awards Ceremony (Fan Zone, Service Park, Concepcion)
(All times are local time, approximate and subject to change)
Media Zone
The media zone, which is attended by all drivers and selected team representatives, will operate as follows:
TC 3A, TC 6A, TC 9A, TC 12A and TC 16A
FIA WRC Meet the Crews Live Interview, Concepción, Thursday 26 September
18:20 – 19:00 – FIA Supported Championship
Toksport WRT, Oliver Solberg (SWE), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
Fabrizio Zaldivar (PRY), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
Jorge Martinez (CHL), Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
Pedro Heller (CHL), Citroen C3 Rally 2
Diego Dominguez (PRY), Ford Fiesta Rally 3
18:40 – 19:00 – FIA WRC Championship
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, Ott Tanak (EST), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Kalle Rovanperä (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Sami Pazzari (FIN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid
M-Sport Ford WRT, Grégoire Munster (LUX), Ford Puma Rally1 Hybrid
M-Sport Ford WRT, Mārtinš Sesks (LVA), Ford Puma Rally1
FIA WRC team principals must attend an interview with their respective teams at the start ramp.
FIA Post-Event Press Conference, Fan Zone (SP), Concepción, Sunday 29 September, 15:30
The top three drivers in the overall standings, the winning co-driver, and the representative of the winning manufacturer.
He is a winning driver in FIA WRC2, WRC2 Challenger, WRC3 and Masters Cup.
Live interviews from FIA WRC Meet the Crews and FIA post-event press conferences will be broadcast on FIA and WRC social media channels.
Rally Chile Biobio Manufacturers Participate
| Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT | Sebastien Ogier (FRA)/Vincent Landais (FRA) – #17 |
| Elfyn Evans (GBR)/Scott Martin (GBR) – #33 | |
| Kalle Rovanperä(FIN)/Jonne Halttunen(FIN) – #69 | |
| Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT | Thierry Neuville (BEL)/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) – #11 |
| Ott Tänak (EST)/Martin Järveoja (EST) – #8 | |
| Esapekka Lappi(FIN)/Janne Ferm(FIN) – #4 | |
| M-Sport Ford WRT | Adrien Furmeau (FRA)/Alexandre Corea (FRA) – #16 |
| Gregoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Luca (BEL) – #13 |
Additional Rally Chile Biobio P1 participant
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Sami Pajari(FIN)/Enni Mälkönen(FIN) – #5
M-Sport Ford WRT Mārtinš Sesks (LVA)/Renārs Francis (LVA) – #22
FIA World Rally Championship 2024 Classification
The provisional standings for Round 10 of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship can be found here.
Rally Chile Biobio 2023 Results
| 1 | O. Tänak (EST)/M. Yerveoja (EST) | Ford Puma Rally 1 Hybrid | 3 hours 06 minutes 38.1 seconds |
| 2 | T. Neuville (EBL)/M. Widaege (BEL) | Hyundai i20 N Rally 1 Hybrid | +42.1 seconds |
| 3 | E. Evans (GBR)/S. Martin (GBR) | Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid | +1 minute 06.9 seconds |
Rally Chile Biobio Winner
2023 Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja Ford Puma Rally 1 Hybrid
2019 Ott Tännak/Martin Jerveozza Toyota Yaris WRC
