• Fabrizio Zaldivar retained the FIA CODASUR Rally Championship title thanks to a fourth place on the season finale that protected his advantage at the top of the points’ standings
• The Paraguayan driver and his co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian won three of the five events in the series after failing to finish the opening round of the year at Zaldivar’s home event
• Their title is the third FIA regional rally crown for Hyundai i20 N Rally2 customers this season following Hayden Paddon’s titles in European and Asia-Pacific series.

Fabrizio Zaldivar claimed fourth place on Rally del Atlántico in Uruguay to clinch the FIA CODASUR Rally Championship title for the second consecutive year in his Hyundai i20 N Rally2.

The result capped off a superb season for the Paraguayan driver and Marcelo Der Ohannesian, his Italian co-driver. They won three of the five events – only missing out victory on the season opener on Zaldivar’s home event of the South American series and the final round of the year.

The retirement to start the season at Rally Trans Itapúa left the pair with an immediate deficit to make up in their title defence. However, they responded perfectly at the following round as the series travelled to Argentina for Rally Jesús Maria, emerging with the victory after a close battle for the lead over the course of the first day of the rally.

At the following round – Bolivia’s Rally Santa Cruz – Zaldivar and Der Ohannesian had to be more patient. Facing both strong crews on their home event of the CODASUR season and the normal cast of regular rivals, the pair held a podium position. Their consistency left them in the perfect position to captalise when their competitors hit trouble, allowing them to clinch victory number two for the season, and move into the championship lead for the first time.

However, Zaldivar and Der Ohannesian’s single biggest step towards the 2024 title came at Rally Erechim Brazil. The i20 N Rally2 crew banked another 30 points for a third win of the season, but it came as the two drivers who had been their closest challengers for the year both failed to score. This combination allowed Zaldivar and Der Ohannesian to massively increase their advantage from just two points, to an impressive 21 with just the weekend in Uruguay left to complete. That margin left them only needing only top five in the season finale to guarantee themselves the 2024 title.

Aware of this, the duo was measured throughout the weekend at Rally de Atlántico as they minimised risks and held a top five position for most of the rally. The second fastest time on the final stage confirmed their pace from the previous events remained but was not required as they cruised to championship glory.

Their success became the third FIA regional rally championship title for Hyundai i20 N Rally2 customers this year, after Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon won both the FIA European Rally Championship and Asia-Pacific Rally Championship earlier this year.

Fabrizio Zaldivar said: “It’s a really nice feeling to win the FIA CODASUR Rally Championship after starting the season with a DNF at my home event. After that we had to really focus and work hard with the team to have a perfect car for each following round. We managed to win three rallies in a row where we really needed to rely on the i20 N Rally2 and push to the limit to achieve our goals. We did the hard work, and we were able to enjoy and just drive through the last round. I am really happy and this achievement is the reward of the hard work we put during the year.”

Hyundai Motorsport Customer Racing Manager Benoit Nogier said: “Hyundai i20 N Rally2 customers have now won the FIA regional titles on three continents, with Fabrizio Zaldivar and Marcelo Der Ohannesian’s success in the FIA CODASUR Rally Championship joining Hayden Paddon’s FIA ERC and APRC victories. The championship in South America was no less hard fought than any other. Zaldivar and Der Ohannesian needed to come back from a DNF in the first round, but they responded perfectly with three consecutive wins to retake control of the championship battle before the final round. Knowing they only needed a top five to make sure of the title, they did exactly what was needed, while minimising the risks and were rewarded with a second FIA title in two years.”


2024 FIA CODASUR Rally Championship – Final Drivers’ Standings