Estonian star victorious as WRC producers’ title is determined in South America*.
M-Sport Ford’s Ott Tänak and co-driver Martin Järveoja grew to become Rally Chile Bio BĂo winners for the second time on Sunday while rival staff Toyota Gazoo Racing secured the producers’ championship crown*.
Tänak, driving a Ford Puma Rally1 for M-Sport Ford, seized the lead of the South American fixture on Friday and, because of intelligent tyre techniques, constructed a commanding buffer which he carried via to win by 42.1sec on Sunday.
Teemu Suninen went off the highway within the rally’s penultimate stage and, whereas the Hyundai i20 N driver’s demise elevated team-mate Thierry Neuville to second total, it additionally opened the door for Toyota Gazoo Racing to clinch the producers’ title with two rallies to spare.
Suninen’s demise meant the Japanese marque wanted to attain 4 bonus factors greater than Hyundai, for whom Neuville was the one remaining driver, within the Wolf Energy Stage. It did precisely that, with GR Yaris stars Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans setting the primary and second-fastest occasions respectively.
“I’m actually happy with the staff and the drivers and all of the work we’ve got carried out throughout the season,” expressed Toyota Gazoo Racing staff principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
“It’s the earliest we’ve got ever as Toyota Gazoo Racing received the title, so it exhibits we’ve got carried out issues proper.”
Evans’ results of third total was sufficient to maintain the drivers’ championship battle alive as he headed points-leading GR Yaris team-mate Rovanperä, celebrating his twenty third birthday at this time, by 1min 4.1sec.
Rovanperä now leads the collection by 31 factors and will clinch the title at spherical 12 of 13 by scoring increased than Evans.
Nearly 5 minutes again from the lead in a lonely fifth total was Takamoto Katsuta, driving the same Toyota. The rest of the leaderboard comprised of WRC2 runners with Oliver Solberg successful the class forward of Gus Greensmith, Sami Pajari, Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin.
Roope Korhonen, though not competing in Chile, was topped WRC3 champion by default* after Diego Dominguez’s retirement means he can now not be caught.
The WRC returns to Europe quickly for Central European Rally, a brand-new tri-country fixture. The asphalt occasion takes locations from 26 – 29 October throughout Germany, Austria and Czech Republic.
*Topic to affirmation of the outcomes by the FIA
Total classification:
1. O Tänak / M Järveoja EST Ford Puma 3h 6m 38.1s
2. T Neuville / M Wydaeghe BEL Hyundai i20 N +42.1s
3. E Evans / S Martin GBR Toyota GR Yaris +1m 6.9s
4. Ok Rovanperä / J Halttunen FIN Toyota GR Yaris +2m 11.0s
5. T Katsuta / A Johnston JPN Toyota GR Yaris +4m 41.5s
6. O Solberg / E Edmondson SWE Ĺ koda Fabia RS +8m 18.5s
Drivers’ championship standings (after spherical 11 of 13)
1. Ok Rovanperä 217pts
2. E Evans 186pts
3. T Neuville 155pts
