- Hyundai Motorsport heads to Rally Chile, the 11th round of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship, looking to further its lead after a 1-2-3 finish at Acropolis Rally
- The Conception-based rally will mark the final gravel event of the season, with 16 stages of fast and flowing roads set to be contested next week (September 26-29)
- Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm will return to the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid for the first time since their home event, Rally Finland.
Just two weeks after scoring a monumental 1-2-3 finish at Acropolis Rally, Hyundai Motorsport will voyage to South America for round 11 of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) season, Rally Chile. The team is looking to make further gains in the championship fight at the only Latin American round of the year.
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team is aiming to capitalise on its recent podium clean sweep as it heads to the final gravel event of the season. While the result has given the team an extension of its lead in the standings, Hyundai Motorsport isn’t taking anything for granted with three events still remaining.
A treacherous surface, Rally Chile’s loose gravel and fast-flowing stages quickly become abrasive after the first few runners take to the road. A precise, stable car setup and determined crews are needed to conquer the 306.76km event, with the risk of retirement looming around every turn. Weather conditions could also play a role in the weekend: with the event taking place in the southern hemisphere’s springtime, the sudden appearance of rain could stall a crew’s progress across a stage.
As well as the physical challenges, an itinerary overhaul from the 2023 edition also adds another level of jeopardy for crews. Pelun (SS7/10, 15.65km) returns for the first time since 2019 with a revised route, while San Rosendo (SS3/6, 23.32km), Lota (SS8/11, 25.64km) and Laraquete (SS13/15, 18.62km) feature on the itinerary with new names yet familiar sections from previous years.
All three Hyundai Motorsport crews are looking to capitalise on the tea’s momentum from Greece. Finns Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm returning to the third Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid for the first time since Rally Finland – an event in which the crew topped the Super Sunday standings. Lappi has contested the event twice, with a best finish of sixth position in 2019.
Leaving Chile with a clean weekend and a maximum points haul is the goal for Thierry Neuville, as the Belgian aims to maintain his lead in the championship fight. Team-mate Ott Tänak will be looking to deliver a hat-trick of wins on the Chilean roads, having stood on the top step at the only two previous editions of the event in 2019 and 2023.
Hyundai Motorsport President and Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “While we approach Rally Chile with both optimism and momentum, we are also going into the event with great caution. Greece was a fantastic display of what can be achieved with great team-work, but it is imperative we do not lose focus in the final events of the season. The Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid has demonstrated its robustness and reliability at other gravel rallies this season, so we want to end the final event on this surface strongly before our return to tarmac. Every point counts so we need to be at the spearhead of the classification by Saturday evening before we assess how much we need to push on Sunday. We want to protect the advantage we have in all three standings as a priority, but we still want to push for wins and podiums too.”
Crew Notes: Thierry Neuville/ Martijn Wydaeghe (#11 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
- Belgians continue to lead drivers’ and co-drivers’ championships
- Belgians finished second in 2023 edition
Neuville said: “Rally Chile is similar to some of the other gravel events we have faced this season, but the stages can vary a lot. We were able to really enjoy the drive last year and finish on the podium to make our weekend even better. We need a lot of traction from the car, particularly with our road position, but it also needs to be resistant to bumpier sections because the risk of punctures in Chile is high. We are going to push through the weekend without trouble and score as many points as possible; our main target is to keep a good lead in the championship. The last three rounds are going to be about managing the gap and Chile is an important event for that. We need to come away with good points before going to the tarmac rounds where we know we can do well.”
Crew Notes: Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (#8 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
- Crew aiming to continue positive trajectory from podium finish in Greece
- Estonians have won both previous editions of the South American event
Tänak said: “The last time we were in Chile, the roads were very abrasive, which was challenging for tyre management but not so hard on the car. At the same time, it was quite demanding for the drivers with a mix of fast and slow sections – similar to Finland. There is a bit of everything in this event, but it’s a driver’s rally – it’s all about performance. Experience is always good, but it’s difficult to take anything forward from our win last year in a new car with a new team. In Chile, the weather can be a tricky element, particularly as we have had a lot of difficult conditions. The car needs to be performing very well and needs to be giving us good confidence. We need to do our maximum and target a win there for sure.”
Crew Notes: Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm(#4 Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid)
- Finns return for the first time since their home event in August
- Crew looking to score valuable points for manufacturers’ championship fight
Lappi said: “I am feeling prepared for Chile, we did some testing in Finland prior to Acropolis so we have had some important seat time in the car fairly recently. The surface is quite unique: there is a lot of loose gravel, but it can also be abrasive when the road section begins to be cleaned. A good setup and perfect pace notes are crucial to fast times at this event. We need a lot of stability and traction from the car, and because of the crests, corners and banks, it can be hard to see where the road is going. We have seen very different weather conditions here in 2019 and 2023, so we rely even more than usual on the weather team because of the time of year. I am excited to be back in the car and I am hoping to bring a lot of points home for the team.”
Weekend at a Glance
- Rally Chile begins with a ceremonial start in Plaza de la Independencia, Concepción on Thursday evening
- Friday’s schedule starts with the 19.72km SS1 Pulperia before traversing the 93.04km of the day’s remaining five stages
- Saturday marks the longest day of the rally, with six stages covering 139.20km of Chilean countryside
- Four stages form the final day, including SS16 Bio Bio 2 (8,78km) as the weekend’s Power Stage.