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Rally Chile: Victory for Ott Tanak, Neuville unhurt in a heavy crash

  • FIA World Rally Championship 2019 / Round 06 / Rally Chile Ott Tanak
  • FIA World Rally Championship 2019 / Round 06 / Rally Chile Ott Tanak

Ott Tanak (Toyota Gazoo Racing) triumphed in the first edition of Rally Chile as the FIA World Rally Championship event. The Estonian in the #8 Toyota Yaris WRC took the lead in the early phase on Friday afternoon and stayed in front until the end on Sunday afternoon. It’s the second win this year for Tanak and his eighth WRC victory in a career.

After 16 special stages and 304 competitive kilometers, Tanak’s advantage over the second-placed Sebastien Ogier (Citroen) was 23.1 seconds. Sebastien Loeb (Hyundai) completed the podium.

Ott Tanak was also fastest on the Power Stage, adding five points to 25 points that he earned for a victory. Ogier was the second-fastest, taking four additional points.

Rally Chile Neuville crash

Thierry Neuville’s destroyed car

The rally was marked by a heavy crash of the championship leader Thierry Neuville and his navigator Nicolas Gilsoul on SS8 on Saturday morning, while there were running third. Their #11 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC was destroyed but, fortunately, Neuville and Gilsoul were unhurt.

Neuville’s retirement promoted Ogier to a new championship leader. After six rounds, the reigning champion has 122 points, ten points more than Ott Tanak and twelve points more than Thierry Neuville.

Sebastien Ogier is a new championship leader

Sebastien Ogier is a new championship leader

M-Sport’s Elfyn Evans and Teemu Suninen placed two Ford Fiestas to the top 5. Esapekka Lappi (Citroen) finished sixth, ahead of Andreas Mikkelsen (Hyundai) and Kris Meeke (Toyota). Jari-Matti Latvala (Toyota) retired with broken suspension from the third place on Saturday afternoon, restarting on Sunday and finishing 11th overall.

Kalle Rovanpera was the fastest WRC2 driver and ninth overall in a Škoda Fabia R5, 23.6 seconds ahead of Mads Ostberg in a Citroen C3 R5. Gus Greensmith (Ford Fiesta R5) was the third in WRC2 class.

Kalle Rovanpera took the victory in the WRC2/WRC2 Pro category

Kalle Rovanpera took the victory in the WRC2/WRC2 Pro category

After two South American WRC events in Argentina and Chile, now it’s time to go back to Europe where seven WRC events will take place before season’s finale in Australia. The next is Rally de Portugal from May 30 to June 2.

Check the results of Rally Chile

Photos: Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Motorsport, Citroen Racing

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