WRC Review Rally Chile 01.10.2024
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00:00đ”
00:29Zidane! Zidane! Zidane! Zidane! Zidane!
00:41Martin Zulis, Chief Mechanic
00:47Hayley Harrod, Rally Technician
00:51Sean Garner, Tire Technician
00:53William Lavenant, First Mechanic
00:59Gil White, Transmission Technician
01:06Miikka Lahtinen, Mechanic
01:23Andy Smith, Tire Technician
01:33It's a team game.
01:34Building the toughest machine in motorsport.
01:36We're ready.
01:37For Rally Chile.
01:38Are you?
01:44The WRC has landed in South America, between the Andes Mountains and Pacific Ocean.
01:50It's Round 11, Rally Chile.
01:52And with just two more events after this one,
01:54we're getting closer to knowing who will be this year's number one driver.
02:00Thierry Neville is currently in pole position, five times runner-up.
02:04He's aiming to win the Drivers' Championship for the first time.
02:08It's a long way to go.
02:09Nothing is done yet, so we keep it calm.
02:13Try to control the situation with the lead we have.
02:16And obviously, we need to take some points from the weekend, of course.
02:19But we don't need to take all the risks.
02:22Thierry's closest challenger is his Hyundai teammate, Oittanak.
02:25Winner both previous times this event was run.
02:29Somehow, the last couple of times, we've been strong here.
02:32And I've always felt good in the car and on these roads.
02:36So let's see what this year brings.
02:38So if I can still find the confidence.
02:41My focus is just to focus on my own drive.
02:44To try to get the maximum out of it.
02:48Let's say, what others are doing, we can't change.
02:51We can only improve our own chances.
02:53And eight times Drivers' Champion, Sebastien Ogier is still in the race.
02:57Can he make it a record equaling nine titles?
03:01It's not so much a plan about the championship.
03:03It's a plan about enjoying the race,
03:05enjoying trying to fight for a win.
03:08That's always the plan.
03:10How can I say it?
03:11I just take every rally like they come.
03:13And we will see where we are.
03:19And here are those all-important standings.
03:21Nabil's lead over Oittanak, 34 points.
03:24While Ogier is another four points further back in third.
03:27There's a maximum of 30 points available at each event.
03:30Which means Thierry could possibly claim the title here in Chile.
03:34If results fell his way.
03:37And there's also a Manufacturers' Championship to be decided.
03:40Where Hyundai currently lead Toyota by 35 points.
03:46And remember, under the new rules for 2024,
03:49there are a maximum 18 points available
03:52for the fastest driver through Friday and Saturday stages.
03:55With another 12 up for grabs on Super Sunday.
03:58But those points will be hard won.
04:01Well, for sure, it's beautiful stages.
04:03But the key fact will be the tyre management on Saturday and Friday.
04:07It's going to be a lot of tyre wear.
04:09Yeah, I think we've seen that last year.
04:11And I think we can expect the same this year.
04:13So we don't have so many hats.
04:15We have only 12 for all the weekend.
04:17So it can be quite of a challenge.
04:22I think, yeah, this rally is actually pretty tricky
04:25with tyre wear and everything.
04:27The grip levels are not high, but you have a lot of tyre wear.
04:30So you need to plan the tyre package really well.
04:33So I think that will be the key.
04:39So 16 testing gravel stages to come
04:42in the forests of Chile's BĂo BĂa region.
04:44They total just under 307km
04:47with another 900km plus of road section
04:50linking them to the service park in ConcepciĂłn.
04:58Which is where the event got going Thursday night
05:01at the ceremonial start.
05:03Thousands of fans had gathered in the Plaza de la Independencia
05:06to get a close-up of the WRC's finest.
05:11Sami Piari back in the Toyota line-up
05:13after his fourth place finish in Finland
05:16taking over Takamoto Katsuta's seat.
05:19While Martin Sest was doing the selfies for the M-Sport 4 team
05:23the Latvian driver also getting another chance
05:26at the top level of the sport.
05:28And it looks like Hyundai's championship contenders
05:31aren't short on encouragement either.
05:33But let's move on to Friday's action.
05:35Two loops of three stages
05:37either side of a visit to service.
05:39That's 112.76km of slippy gravel
05:43and with temperatures rising from 7 to 16 degrees through the day
05:47the question of tyre choice could be even more unpredictable.
05:53Sunrise over the Andean foothills
05:56but it might take a little while to get some heat
05:58into the rubber on the opening stage.
06:00Thierry Neuville, championship leader
06:03since the opening round Monte Carlo.
06:05He's opened the slippery stages on every rally this season.
06:14That pain could ease.
06:16The last two events of the year are on cleaner tarmac.
06:19Today the Belgian just has to keep in touch with the leaders
06:22with their better road positions on a cleaning surface.
06:25Victory not imperative.
06:27A decent point haul would suffice.
06:30Nothing silly, Thierry.
06:40SĂ©bastien Ogier, 38 points behind Neuville in the title race
06:44and an early, immediate statement of intent from the Frenchman
06:48at one with his Yaris from the off.
06:50A scintillating opening run through the flowing forest tracks.
06:54Ogier fully 9.1 seconds quicker
06:57than the Hyundai's of Neuville and Tanac.
07:00Only the title contenders made it through the first stage
07:03before it was cancelled on safety grounds.
07:07A few set-up changes for the Hyundai's perhaps
07:10after being blown away in the opening stage by SĂ©bastien Ogier
07:13and things clicking nicely for Eutte Tanac.
07:16Dancing, jinking, flinching one way then the next
07:20in the blink of an eye.
07:22Tanac 4.2 seconds quicker than his team-mate.
07:25An encouraging start.
07:28SĂ©bastien Ogier on a mission and on song
07:31if the opening stage was anything to go by.
07:34More than 9 seconds quicker than the Hyundai pair
07:37doing his talking behind the wheel.
07:39And fastest here again.
07:41Only a couple of tenths quicker than Tanac
07:43but it's Ogier's morning so far.
07:48The first stage in anger for Elgin Evans.
07:51The Welshman dropping out of contention in the title race
07:54but with a big job to do for the team
07:56as Toyota look to make up ground in the manufacturer's title race.
08:00Evans on fresh rubber after the cancellation of the opening stage
08:04and using it to good effect.
08:063.9 seconds quicker than team-mate Ogier.
08:13Hadrian Formos staking acclaim as driver of the season
08:17in the M-Sport Puma R1
08:19and impressive run of podiums on his return to the sports top flight this year.
08:23This was Formos' first outing in Chile.
08:26He was here commentating last year.
08:28Changing grip, lots of loose stones
08:30making for a challenging first stage behind the wheel in South America.
08:34Slower than Evans.
08:38A welcome return to action for world champion Galarov Mpera
08:42back to support Toyota's bid to make up the 35-point deficit over Hyundai
08:47in the manufacturer's championship.
08:49Contrary to expectations and rally theory
08:52the stage evidently getting slower since Elgin Evans' benchmark time.
08:56Despite an evolving line from the cars in front, grip dropping away.
09:00The champion 2.3 seconds slower.
09:08Galar, good morning. What can you tell us about conditions in here?
09:11Because after Elgin it's getting slower with every car.
09:15Yeah, I don't know. It was quite weird.
09:18Many places where you have a bit of line
09:21it feels that from the side of the road it makes the road actually more messy.
09:25There is just loose gravel everywhere.
09:27But yeah, not so easy condition to be super fast.
09:31It was OK stage but nothing crazy.
09:35Advantage Toyota after the opening two stages.
09:38Sebastien Ogier setting the early pace quickest through both tests.
09:426.6 seconds ahead of teammate Elgin Evans.
09:45Galarov Mpera a further 2.3 seconds adrift.
09:52Stage three is next.
09:54Two drivers at the opposite ends of their careers making similar mistakes.
09:59Final preparations on the road section before stage three at Rally Chile
10:03where Sebastien Ogier, currently third in the Drivers' Championship, is the early leader.
10:14Thierry Neville, the man who tops the drivers' standings, is down in ninth.
10:18His mindset, clear and clear.
10:21He's got a lot of confidence.
10:23Thierry Neville, the man who tops the drivers' standings, is down in ninth.
10:26His mindset, clear and simple.
10:29No risks, no need to push too hard.
10:31Leave that to others.
10:34A clean morning would likely pay dividends as recent rallies had proved.
10:38And that's exactly what the Belgian achieved.
10:41Not especially enjoyable on the loose tracks but there's a bigger picture here.
10:47Wojtanak chasing a Chile hat-trick.
10:49So far, so good relatively.
10:52Happy with his morning, he said.
10:54Elsewhere, things were about to take a turn for the worse.
11:01Sebastien Ogier, rally leader, on a flyer again in stage three, San Rosendo,
11:07but only four kilometres in.
11:09The Frenchman, offline,
11:12his Yaris thumping into the bank.
11:14A big hit.
11:16His rear tyre was not going to survive that.
11:19Ogier and co-driver, Vincent Londet, out of the car to change a wheel.
11:24Second time in successive rallies.
11:27One minute, 48 seconds lost.
11:30A big blow to Ogier's fading title hopes.
11:33A big boost for the championship leader as he arrived at the stage end.
11:40Ogier's had to stop and change a wheel in there, not to his rim, we think.
11:43But like I say, it will be a long weekend for us and we need to focus on ourselves.
11:48And that's the only thing that matters.
11:51Advantage cheering the bill in terms of the title in the rally.
11:55Ogier's problems paved the way for Toyota team mate, Alvin Evans, to assume the lead.
12:00Having been quickest through stage two, the Welshman,
12:03within a tenth of a second of repeating the feat in stage three.
12:07On the podium here last year, Evans finishing the morning loop out front.
12:13Go!
12:14This is a first top-flight excursion outside Europe for Martin Cesc,
12:18after an impressive WRC debut in mid-season.
12:24The Latvian offline, loose gravel, unable to slow down for this right-hander.
12:32Shades of Sebastian Ogier earlier in the stage.
12:36Cesc's also forced to stop to change a wheel.
12:39His problem, he had two punctures and only one spare.
12:46By the end of the stage, the rear tyre was finished.
12:51Yeah, I got caught in this loose gravel and we hit the bank.
12:56So I think it's a double puncture.
12:59We don't have the second spare, so it's a big trouble now.
13:03Yeah, I was just going to ask if you got a spare.
13:05Good luck getting back to service. It looks pretty nasty.
13:11And with only three good tyres, Cesc was unable to drive safely to service
13:16and so had to retire for the day.
13:19And eventful morning.
13:20Elben Evans leads the Toyota 1-2-3 ahead of Kalle Rovenpera
13:24and young Sami Piari, seizing his opportunity to shine once again.
13:28Hoytanak, the first of the championship challengers,
13:32The Toyota service crew getting to work on that rear left corner of Ogier's car,
13:36checking there's no deeper lying issues after that Stage 3 impact.
13:40A difficult day so far for the eight-time world champion.
13:43Time for his team to pull together.
13:50Toyota 1-2-3.
13:51The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:52The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:53The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:54The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:55The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:56The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:57The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:58The Toyota 1-2-3.
13:59The Toyota 1-2-3.
14:01Talk to me about the team behind you who are helping you guys.
14:04Who would you say are the key people for you within the Toyota team?
14:09It will be difficult to answer this question
14:11because you have a few key people with whom you are talking.
14:14Your engineers are the main guy who are exchanging everything.
14:20But behind them, there are others who are also working as hard.
14:24There are a couple of French engineers also in Toyota
14:27who always make it a bit easier to communicate.
14:31How would you describe your relationship with him?
14:33How well do you get on together?
14:35Seb has a lot of experience, so he knows what he wants most of the time.
14:41So my role basically is to try and help him figure out
14:46the little details and stuff around.
14:50We exchange a lot.
14:51Like I said, between every stage, we speak to make sure everything is fine.
14:57And I suppose it helps that you speak a common language.
15:00Yes, it's helping a lot.
15:02Especially in stressful situations, I would say.
15:05When we have technical issues, sometimes it happens.
15:09We speak in French most of the time,
15:11so it's quite easy for us to exchange in these kinds of scenarios.
15:16Also, for everyday talk, basically, it's for me.
15:20And also, I think for him, it's much easier.
15:22We naturally go back to speaking French together.
15:30It was a bit strange to start working with Seb.
15:33I remember when I was young, before I started to work in motorsport,
15:36basically, I was following what he was doing.
15:39So it's always impressive, for sure,
15:41when you realise that you are here and working with him.
15:44It's quite special.
15:47How would you describe your relationship with Seb?
15:51Pretty nice, I would say, because I have the chance to be beside him.
15:55He's sharing a lot of experience between rallies.
15:58He's calling me, taking news from what I do,
16:01and giving me some advice for my life also.
16:04Yeah, that's really nice that he's giving you life advice as well.
16:08So he's a friend as well as a work colleague, let's say.
16:12I feel like he's like a big brother for me,
16:14because he's the same age as my brother,
16:16and so he could be.
16:18And sometimes I'm asking him for advice on life,
16:22and he's doing it.
16:24There are many people in there,
16:26and sometimes even up to the chef, whatever,
16:30will give you food to make you happy,
16:32so that you can go through the weekend.
16:36Sometimes we feel we are never thankful enough,
16:39because we are so busy during a race week
16:42that we focus only on the race,
16:45but in order for that to happen in a nice way,
16:50it takes a lot of effort from many people.
16:53It's exciting, actually.
16:55I'm obviously enjoying being part of this team,
16:58and trying every single event to deliver the best result as possible,
17:03as we win and we lose together.
17:06SEBASTIAN KNOWS ALL ABOUT WINNING
17:10Sebastian knows all about winning,
17:12but for now, Chile is a test of his and the team's powers of recovery.
17:20Into the afternoon, Uyt Tanak.
17:23Committed, he has to be.
17:25He needs big points here to keep the pressure on team-mate Thierry Neville
17:29in the Drivers' Championship.
17:32Tanak using every millimetre of road.
17:35A treat to watch in full flow.
17:43Elvin Evans didn't get to run this stage this morning,
17:46now leading the Toyota Charge and the Rally.
17:49The Drivers' title beyond reach,
17:51Evans' priority now very much on the team.
17:54Slower than Tanak by almost four and a half seconds,
17:57but retaining the lead.
18:02Toyota enjoyed a podium lockout going into the afternoon loop
18:06that would soon change.
18:08Kalarov and Pere drifting off stage on a slow corner into a gate.
18:13Enough to cost him second place,
18:15dropping behind Tanak on the leaderboard.
18:24I had a bit wide moment in one low-speed corner.
18:28Nothing too dramatic, but of course a bit unfortunate.
18:31I need to reverse out.
18:39Thierry Neville has made no secret of his approach here.
18:43Much the same as the last few rallies.
18:45Stay out of trouble and in the game on Friday,
18:48make up ground over the weekend.
18:50Difficult, frustrating as it's been opening the road,
18:54it's getting to plan for the Belgian.
18:59Three, six left. Tighten up.
19:01Elvin Evans at a loss to explain
19:03why things aren't working as well this afternoon
19:06as they did in the morning.
19:08Five seconds slower than Tanak.
19:10The Welshman concedes the lead.
19:18Just as it had all been going so well for Adrien Formeau,
19:22problems at the start of stage five.
19:25The Frenchman having to change an alternator belt
19:28on his Puma R1
19:30handed a one-minute penalty for arriving late.
19:33Formeau going on to clock a good time through the stage,
19:36only two tenths slower than stage winner Ogier.
19:44We had an issue with the alternator.
19:46We fixed it.
19:48Putting back the fan, I damaged one pipe.
19:51Then I had to fix the pipe.
19:54Grégoire Munster was enjoying one of the best days of his season.
19:58Comfortable and quick behind the wheel of the Puma R1,
20:01picking up a puncture moments towards the end of stage six,
20:04costing him a few seconds and fourth place.
20:07But the M-Sport youngster, in fifth overnight,
20:10only 10.7 seconds off the lead.
20:12A happy return 12 months on from his full debut here.
20:17Oit Tanak came to South America
20:19chasing a hat-trick of Rally Chile victories
20:21and is on course to achieve just that.
20:28Enough to bring a welcome smile back to the Hyundai star's face.
20:33How do you feel about the performance overall today?
20:36Yeah, we've had a good day
20:39and we need to be very happy with that.
20:44A cracking end to Friday's action courtesy
20:46of Oit Tanak and Toyota's Elvin Evans.
20:49The Welshman chasing down his rival's time
20:51in a bid to regain the rally lead.
20:54Evans just shy, but reducing the gap between the top two
20:57to less than half a second overnight.
21:03Did you throw everything at that last stage?
21:05Well, I needed to do something better than the previous effort at least,
21:08but, yeah, I'm a bit lost with the feeling,
21:12in all honesty, in the car.
21:14It's not feeling so natural at the moment,
21:17but at least the commitment was back to the usual level in there
21:20and, yeah, the rest we'll see for tomorrow.
21:24But a late twist courtesy of the stewards.
21:26The nominal times awarded for Friday morning's cancelled stage
21:30were amended.
21:31This put Elvin Evans back in the lead,
21:33three seconds in front of Oit Tanak, Rovampira third.
21:37While further down, Thierry Neville in a satisfactory sixth,
21:40but a bad day for Ogier.
21:42He's ninth, nearly one and a half minutes off the lead.
21:48It's tough at the top in the WRC.
21:51Mixed fortunes so far for our championship contenders
21:54and it won't be getting any easier on day two.
21:57Highlights from Saturday's stages coming up.
22:11It's a misty early morning start for the fans on day two of Rally Chile
22:16where Elvin Evans tops the leaderboard,
22:18Oit Tanak is second, just three seconds behind,
22:21Cala Rovampira third.
22:27And here's what lies ahead of them today.
22:29Three stages run twice, including repeat runs
22:32through the 28.3km of Maria Las Cruces,
22:35the longest of the event.
22:37And today is predicted to be the toughest on tyres.
22:41High above the Beo Beo River.
22:43Another day, a different character of stages.
22:50An early wake-up call for Hyundai's Esa-Pekka Lappi.
22:56Heavy damage to the front of his Hyundai i20.
23:05Gregoire Munster in fifth, under pressure from Neville,
23:08but protecting a 19-second advantage going into the opening stage.
23:12The M-Sport driver caught out by damp conditions,
23:15costing him time.
23:16Munster 23 seconds slower than Neville,
23:19conceding fifth place.
23:26Sammy Piari, the next youngster in Neville's sights,
23:29a further 13 seconds up the road.
23:31The Finn learning all the time, using his head,
23:34finding his way in this opening stage.
23:38Conceding time, but keeping it on the road, retaining fourth.
23:51Wojtanak chasing a hat-trick of wins here in South America
23:54to keep his championship challenge alive.
24:01A strong opening day among the early pace setters,
24:04but he lost the lead in the stewards' room overnight.
24:07Sanak not impressed.
24:10Elman Evans looking to continue where he left off yesterday,
24:13and doing exactly that.
24:15Fastest through the opening stage,
24:17almost a second quicker than Ogier.
24:20Evans leading the rally for the first time since Croatia back in April.
24:29But enough to break the front suspension.
24:31Ogier a passenger, his title hopes buried in the Chilean rock face.
24:35Only half a kilometre from the end of the stage.
24:44Stay in control, let others make mistakes.
24:46That was Thierry Neville's mantra ahead of this final gravel rally of the season.
24:50And very evidently paying off,
24:52passing a stranded Ogier for the second time in as many rallies.
25:01All playing into the championship leader's hands,
25:04but he seems distracted at the end of the stage.
25:09Thierry second fastest through that stage,
25:11and also some of the guys behind just a bit faster.
25:13Everything okay?
25:16More or less, yeah.
25:17And we've just passed Sebastian Ogier as well.
25:19That means a bit more positivity for the championship title race.
25:24Yeah, obviously I didn't think about that.
25:26He was anyhow behind, so...
25:28But yeah, we focus on ourselves,
25:31and there are a few positions to catch in the pond.
25:34But we need to go.
25:37With Sebastian Ogier out,
25:38it's looking increasingly like a two-horse title race.
25:41Ottanak left to take the fight to his team-mate Neville,
25:44but the Estonian has to keep pushing.
25:46And the more you push, the greater the chances of a mishap.
25:51Sure enough, a spin early in the stage.
25:53Not catastrophic, but time and second place lost to Carl Rovampera.
25:59Sebastian Ogier, stranded in stage, trying to fix his car.
26:03Eventually on the move, but a huge 30 minutes lost.
26:09Just go park at the finish.
26:10Yeah, okay.
26:11Do you need a push there?
26:12Huh?
26:13Do you need a push?
26:14No, no, it's okay. He's going to walk out.
26:15Oh, I know.
26:16Yeah.
26:18Stage 9, Maria Las Cruces,
26:20one of Chile's toughest at the best of times,
26:22even more of a challenge in these conditions.
26:27Thierry Neville has painful memories of this stage
26:29from his first visit a few years back,
26:31a big off in 2019.
26:38All looking very positive,
26:40but it's hard to tell what's going to happen next.
26:43All looking very positive so far for the Belgian this weekend,
26:47but has he got a problem?
26:49The timesheet's not giving anything away.
26:52Honestly, a tough morning for us.
26:55We are carrying some serious problems all morning
26:57and luckily we are here now.
26:59So we're going to go back to service
27:02and we're going to fix the car
27:03and hopefully trouble-free afternoon.
27:06We had also the wipers who were stuck from mid-stage,
27:09so it's something we're going to have to fix.
27:11They were stuck from mid-stage,
27:12so at some point I couldn't see anything.
27:15Getting to grips with the damp conditions
27:16is a test of the very best,
27:18especially on hard tyres.
27:24World champion Kalarov Mpera
27:25has a habit of making it look easy,
27:27but even he's finding it a struggle
27:29on this final stage of the morning.
27:33How quickly fortunes can change.
27:35Oittanak on a high, all smiles.
27:37Yesterday, the stewards, that spin
27:40and now the conditions,
27:41all conspiring to wipe the smile off the Estonian's face.
27:55Tough going, but not everyone's complaining.
28:00A quick glance out of the windscreen,
28:02you'd be forgiven for thinking you're in, well, Wales.
28:05Home from home for the rally leader.
28:08Evans' mastery of the conditions,
28:10see his lead increase to 11.3 seconds.
28:13Confirmation there, Rov Mpera is now the man chasing him,
28:16while Nabil is fourth, one place behind his title rival, Oittanak.
28:23Chiris Hyundai, now back in service,
28:2530 minutes allowed for his team to make good those problems
28:28that were concerning our championship leader.
28:33But Sebastien Ogier's Toyota
28:35did not make it back to conception under its own steam.
28:38The Frenchman's day, and probably his championship challenge,
28:41over after that impact with a stage-side rock.
28:46The problem is when you are on the brake, you're fully loaded,
28:49and then just a small impact can make a big damage.
28:52Actually, it wasn't a big damage,
28:54but it's just the bolt which was broken.
28:58I think the frustrating I have at the moment
29:00is just that I couldn't make anything of these last two rallies,
29:04where I had, I mean, one of the best speeds I had since long,
29:09and very dominant in terms of speed,
29:11but it doesn't help anything if you don't bring it home.
29:15While Seb is reflecting on what might have been,
29:17his young Toyota teammate is making the most of his latest chance
29:20to develop a career at the top level.
29:27Sami, when were you aware that there might be a trip
29:30to South America in a Rally 1 car coming up?
29:33I heard it first time just after Rally Greece.
29:36So, honestly, it was not so late call,
29:40like, for example, what Kalle had in Poland.
29:43But, like, because normally we are always preparing, like,
29:47one rally at a time, so I was just expecting
29:50some bit longer sort of holidays in between Greece and Central Europe.
29:55So, yeah, the preparation was still, like, the normal,
29:58but just I needed to cancel my holidays.
30:02An old rival, Martin Cesc, will be in a Rally 1 here in Chile.
30:06What would it be like to be against him again,
30:08but this time at the top level?
30:10Yeah, I think that it's, like, it has been nice to drive against him
30:15in smaller classes so far, and now to drive on the top level,
30:19it's, of course, nice to compare to him.
30:22But, after all, I'm, like, I'm there just to do my own thing
30:25and enjoy the rally and not...
30:28So, for me, kind of, at the same time,
30:30there is not, like, any rivals, really.
30:32I'm just trying to focus on my own thing and that's it.
30:37So, what does the future hold then for Sami?
30:40As I would suspect now, you don't really want to drive
30:42anything else other than Rally 1.
30:44Yeah, exactly, like, what else?
30:47If you're asking me, of course, I would like to be
30:49a lot more in the Rally 1.
30:51That's quite obvious, I guess.
30:53Chile this weekend.
30:55What would be a good result come Sunday afternoon
30:58and leaving this event?
31:00Yeah, it's quite hard to say, anyway.
31:02Like, now, two rallies in a row,
31:04I was fourth overall at the finish,
31:06so those were some really great results,
31:09but not all of that were coming from the performance,
31:12I would say.
31:13So, it always has so much to do with how the others are doing,
31:16if someone is facing some issues.
31:18So, it's really hard to really pick one, like, a result,
31:22what would be a good one.
31:24So, I think that there will be, like, many areas
31:28where to judge the performance and how I can, like,
31:31see the development and improvement.
31:34So, it's not only about the final result,
31:36but I hope we can still have a, let's say,
31:39good clean rally, that's one thing,
31:41and also have some speed at some point.
31:44And so far, it's been clean, tidy and fast for Sammy,
31:48who's in fifth position
31:49as we head into the Saturday afternoon stages.
31:54Not getting dragged into a fight,
31:56not pushing too hard, and losing it.
31:58False end, we'll have to wait until later.
32:05Double world record,
32:06Sammy is in fifth position.
32:09Double world champion, Kalle RovenperÀ.
32:13Tyres continue to be a big talking point,
32:15the Toyota Star carrying a couple of softs,
32:18counting on it being damp at some point,
32:20at least, this afternoon.
32:27What will the weather do?
32:28Tanak also scratching his head.
32:30Hards, soft, a mix of both.
32:32It could well shape his ultimate destiny this season,
32:35big points, nothing less needed
32:37to keep his title hopes alive.
32:39Which way to roll?
32:48Alban Evans in pursuit of a first win of the season,
32:50the Weltsman reveling in Chile's forests,
32:53shades of Wales Rally GB.
32:58He's very much at home here,
33:00another stage win.
33:06Thick fog greeted the crews
33:08at the top of the pass in stage 11.
33:12Championship leader Thierry Neville
33:14taking the opportunity to make up ground
33:16on the rally leaders,
33:18duly achieved with the quickest time.
33:26Conditions then deteriorated with every passing car.
33:31World champion Kalle RovenperÀ
33:33described it as the worst he'd ever driven a rally car in.
33:36He still managed to get within five seconds of Neville's time,
33:40enough to take the lead.
33:47You might think Alban Evans wouldn't be phased,
33:49but even a lifetime in the Welsh mountains
33:51couldn't prepare for this.
34:04OK, I couldn't see beyond the bonnet,
34:06so I don't know how you're meant to rally in those conditions,
34:09really, it's crazy, but OK.
34:17It's been a day Sammy Piari will never forget.
34:20Maturity beyond his years
34:22on only his second outing among the sports elite.
34:24Pushing his confidence to the limit, he said,
34:26but crucially, not beyond.
34:28Smart lad.
34:34These speeds, in these conditions,
34:36are what make this sport so special.
34:38Only the best in the world can handle it.
34:43Q Kalle, the coolest man in the forests this afternoon,
34:46with a leaderboard to prove it.
34:50Oytanak, on a high yesterday,
34:52a picture of misery today,
34:54struggling in the conditions and frustrated.
34:57Teams invest a lot forecasting the weather,
34:59Oyt not impressed with the service today.
35:03Yeah, let's say,
35:05no rain expected this evening,
35:07and the fog should have lifted away,
35:09and obviously, yeah,
35:11we had completely wrong information,
35:13so, yeah.
35:15Things are going to get worse.
35:17It's going to get worse.
35:19It's going to get worse.
35:21It's going to get worse.
35:23It's going to get worse.
35:25Yeah, this caught us out quite badly.
35:27But it is difficult to predict, right?
35:30Everything is difficult in this life,
35:32so still, you need to be on it.
35:35Frustration, also the name of the game for Elvin Evans.
35:38Like Tanak, he's led this rally.
35:40Like Tanak, he's been powerless to stop Kalle Rovampera,
35:43assuming total control.
35:45And Rovampera's lead going into the final day,
35:4715.1 seconds.
35:49Thierry Neville will be happy with his fourth place
35:51that's worth 10 provisional points,
35:53conceding just three to championship rival Tanak.
35:56Saturday points earned, but not yet in the bank.
35:59Sunday's stages still need to be completed.
36:03So, with Ogier's exit,
36:05it looks like the fight for the Drivers' Championship
36:07is down to two.
36:09The winner of this rally
36:11and the winner of this rally
36:13The fight for the Drivers' Championship is down to two.
36:15Will the final day in Chile
36:17have its say in the destination of that prize?
36:20Find out shortly.
36:35Tanak and Thierry Neville in direct competition
36:37for the Drivers' Championship
36:39are separated by just 10.1 seconds
36:41in third and fourth.
36:47And with a maximum 12 championship points
36:49available on Super Sunday stages,
36:51that could be the battle to watch.
36:53That's seven points for the fastest car
36:55over the four stages that make up the day,
36:57with another five points for the winner
36:59of the end of rally power stage.
37:11All about Super Sunday for this man.
37:13This year's new rules offering Sebastien Ogier
37:15the opportunity of big consolation points
37:17after his trials and tribulations here.
37:19More about the team now.
37:21Toyota need those points.
37:28Thierry Neville, championship leader
37:30since the opening round Monte Carlo in January,
37:33poised to take another big step closer
37:35to that elusive first World Drivers' title.
37:37Bonus points nice to have,
37:39certainly not imperative given the bigger picture.
37:48The target for us is to maintain the points from yesterday,
37:51see if we can take some today.
37:53It's very tricky in there,
37:55and I think I could have done more,
37:57but on the other hand, the grip is changing a lot,
37:59so with the feeling I had, I did what I could.
38:02To the podium, Oy Tanak,
38:04master of the Super Sunday shootout this year,
38:06chasing a maximum 12 bonus points
38:08to keep his title hopes alive.
38:10Not the best of starts,
38:1212 seconds shy of Ogier's stage time.
38:22Leading the Toyota Challenge,
38:24world champion Kallarov and Pera.
38:26The stage evidently getting worse
38:28with each passing car,
38:30more mud, more fog,
38:32what's the champ got up his sleeve then?
38:34Second quickest behind Ogier.
38:41For sure the road is getting slower and slower by each car,
38:44there is just more mud coming out everywhere.
38:46Also I think the guys in front
38:48didn't have really fog
38:50and it started to come also for us,
38:52so yeah, comparing the time the guys in front,
38:54it's a pretty OK stage,
38:56but not easy condition.
38:58Somewhere out there in the fog,
39:00we think, is Rally Chile.
39:06Pace notes give distance and grade
39:08of upcoming corners.
39:10If the note says 100 metres
39:12and you can only see 20,
39:14it's tricky.
39:24I'm just trying to keep the car on the road
39:26because we don't see anything,
39:28and we are in 4th or 5th gear most of the time,
39:30so to be fair I'm just careful,
39:32but it's not easy,
39:34definitely the conditions are a bit crazy.
39:36You don't trust the pace notes fully?
39:38I trust the pace notes,
39:40but you know sometimes you have 100 straight,
39:42you are in 5th gear,
39:44you can be a little bit 5 metres on the right
39:46and you can hit a bang and you're old.
39:48The driver's title fight has become
39:50an all Hyundai affair.
39:52Teammates, rivals,
39:54a weekend's work on the line
39:56in these conditions.
39:58You could always slow down,
40:00not an option for these guys.
40:08Tenac's only option
40:10to keep pushing.
40:12If his teammate hits a problem or makes a mistake,
40:14the title race could suddenly be blown right open.
40:18But how much to push in these conditions
40:20and how much is the other guy pushing?
40:24I don't know if it's so much about performance
40:28than surviving.
40:30It's obviously a very fast stage
40:32and with a fork like this
40:34sometimes a bit really
40:36maybe a bit lost in the
40:38notes,
40:40but we managed to save it this time,
40:42so all OK.
40:44As we witnessed yesterday,
40:46there's an epic Chilean landscape out there,
40:48but today it's cloaked in a thick layer of uncertainty.
40:50Evan's third quickest
40:52frustrated.
40:58Helicopter airbound,
41:00so clearer skies.
41:02A relief for the WRC's top drivers
41:04as they return to La Roquette,
41:06stage 15.
41:08It's been a new experience
41:10for Martin's Cesc's.
41:12Two outings on the smooth stages of Poland and Latvia
41:14in mid-season.
41:16Big contrast to the sticky stuff
41:18he's having to deal with here.
41:20Over the flying finish, the rear wing lets go.
41:26Martin, that should have been a lively run
41:28through there with no rear wing.
41:30What happened?
41:32What?
41:34That's why we were now braking and
41:36I didn't even know.
41:38I don't know what happened.
41:40Totally gone.
41:42Really?
41:44Actually, I had no idea.
41:48Aero compromises
41:50for Hyundai's Esa-Pekka Lappi too,
41:52with the loss of another front bumper.
41:54Retirement from the rally on the day
41:56co-driver Janne FĂ€rm announced his
41:58WRC retirement.
42:02Oitanak, so often in his
42:04elements on Super Sunday, but unable to
42:06find the edge this morning.
42:08Slower than his teammates in the build through the penultimate
42:10stage. There'll be no hat-trick of
42:12Chile victories for the Estonian.
42:14All about getting to the end now
42:16for rally leader Kalle RovanperÀ
42:18and don't take that for granted.
42:20Remember the penultimate stage in Finland
42:22last time out.
42:26No such scare this time.
42:28Plenty to keep the champ-occupied mind.
42:34So, with just a power stage to go,
42:36it all remains the same at the top of the
42:38leaderboard, RovanperÀ's advantage over
42:40Evans' 19.5 seconds.
42:42Oitanak still ahead of Nabil
42:44in the battle for third.
42:48Oliver Solberg could have won the
42:50WRC2 championship here,
42:52but the weekend ended in tears
42:54after a puncture yesterday.
42:56I wanted to win it,
42:58and now it's difficult, so...
43:00But it's not over yet, Oliver.
43:02No, I know.
43:04The winner here, another title contender,
43:06Johan Rossell. The WRC2
43:08title race continues.
43:12Yes!
43:24The past two rallies for Sebastian Ogier
43:26have ended in mistakes, disappointment
43:28and an end to his title challenge
43:30for the year. Manufacturer points
43:32his only consolation.
43:34All out for a maximum in the power stage,
43:36setting a time that would prove difficult
43:38to match.
43:43A weekend to remember
43:45for Sami Piari. The young Finn
43:47promoted to Toyota's senior ranks
43:49in place of Takamoto Katsuta.
43:51Only his second outing in a full-blown
43:53WRC car, and he's impressed.
43:55Again, a top-six finish,
43:57learning all the way.
44:02An eventful weekend for Frenchman
44:04Adrien Formeau. Bang on the pace
44:06from the start. Friday ruined
44:08by a technical issue and time penalty.
44:10A spin today, but the M-Sport
44:12pilot continues to go from strength
44:14to strength. Fifth.
44:19Here comes the champion.
44:21We could be saying that at the next rally.
44:25Thierry Neville, taking a big step
44:27closer to his first world title.
44:29Another composed, clever drive
44:31from the Belgian. A good point for
44:33his aim. Mission accomplished.
44:373.8 seconds slower than
44:39Ogier through the power stage.
44:41Not a problem.
44:43Yeah, I mean, we knew it would be
44:45a challenging weekend. Obviously,
44:47it was much more challenging than expected,
44:49not only because of the conditions, but
44:51we didn't have the performance package
44:53this weekend. I mean, it was obviously
44:55visible for everybody that we couldn't
44:57fight with the Toyotas this weekend,
44:59but we come from a one to three.
45:01We have a very difficult weekend here,
45:03but there are two more tarmac rounds
45:05now to come, which I really look forward
45:07to, and then the battle is over.
45:09Tanak came here, the only man to win
45:11in Chile. Successful both times
45:13the WRC has been here.
45:15No hat-trick. Desperate for bumper
45:17power stage points and shading
45:19Neville, despite a lack of front aero.
45:21All helping to keep Tanak's outside
45:23title hopes alive.
45:27Elvin Evans in the hunt
45:29for his first victory of the season at one
45:31point over the weekend. It wasn't to be,
45:33but the Welshman still enjoyed a strong
45:35rally here in South America.
45:37Very much the team player, his priority
45:39supporting Toyota's attempt to catch Hyundai
45:41in the team's title race.
45:43Job done.
45:47Rally leader
45:49Kalarov Ampera, saving the best till last.
45:51Only one mode for the
45:53flying Finn in the power stage.
45:55Flat out, full send.
45:57Neck and neck with
45:59OJ throughout the stage, the advantage
46:01switching one way, then the next.
46:03Up and over the flying Finnish.
46:05Slower by the smallest of margins.
46:07Less than a tenth of a second.
46:09Cracking in to the final stage
46:11of the final gravel events of
46:13the season.
46:21Sebastian OJ winning
46:23the power stage just, taking the maximum
46:25five bonus points. Four for Rob Ampera,
46:27Tanak three, just one more than
46:29teammate Neville. One for Evans.
46:33Big thanks to the team.
46:35Car and everything was really strong this weekend
46:37so the win actually feels
46:39quite good. It was not so easy one. Friday
46:41I didn't feel so good and the whole weekend
46:43the conditions, the weather, everything
46:45was difficult so we needed to fight for it
46:47so it feels really good.
46:49Some turnaround by Rob Ampera
46:51distinctly out of sorts Friday.
46:53Scintillating Saturday and Sunday.
46:55A fourth victory of the season from just
46:57seven outings, leading a Toyota
46:59one-two ahead of Elvin Evans.
47:01Tanak completing the podium,
47:03Neville a very useful fourth.
47:05A maximum super Sunday
47:07return for OJ, fastest through
47:09today's four stages for the full seven
47:11bonus points and once again just ahead
47:13of Rob Ampera who takes six.
47:15Neville conceding just one extra
47:17point to Tanak.
47:19It's been a perfect
47:21weekend. I mean it couldn't be going any better
47:23than that. I think we got the maximum points
47:25from the rally, from the
47:27power stage, from the Sunday boys so
47:29really, really great job by the boys
47:31so I'm really grateful for them
47:33and also for the team. This is a big boost on the
47:35motivation towards the
47:37last two events. There's been plenty
47:39of talk about moving to the tarmac.
47:41Are you confident that the car will be as good as it's been here?
47:43I'm confident that
47:45the performance on tarmac is going to be good
47:47but generally European rally is very difficult
47:49with the weather.
47:51Also the same in Japan so
47:53with the weather playing a role
47:55in those events, many things can happen
47:57so just need to keep the cars on the road.
47:59Toyota
48:01victorious here but it looks like we're getting
48:03closer to a Hyundai victory in the
48:05Drivers' Championship. Thierry Neville's
48:07total points all 15 which
48:09means Oittanak reduces his lead to
48:1129 with 60 points still
48:13available.
48:15Toyota still in the running
48:17in the manufacturers. A successful weekend
48:19saw the Japanese team reduce Hyundai's lead
48:21to 17 points.
48:24Kalabrov and PerÀ won't be
48:26adding to his two Drivers' Championships
48:28but he and Jonne Hultinen are now
48:30Rally Chile winners. It's tarmac
48:32all the way now but from the gravel of
48:34South America, goodbye.
48:54What the fuck's this?
49:00What?
49:15Tomorrow don't miss the first ADI
49:17between Ireland and
49:19Germany.