Eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier surged into the lead of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) 2025 after a commanding victory at Rally Chile Bio Bío on Sunday. The Frenchman, partnered with co-driver Vincent Landais, secured his fifth win of the season by edging Toyota Gazoo Racing team-mate Elfyn Evans by 11 seconds.
The result, Ogier’s second consecutive win following success in Paraguay, moved him two points clear of Evans in the drivers’ standings with only three rounds left. His triumph also delivered a landmark 103rd WRC win for Toyota, cementing the Japanese marque as the most successful manufacturer in the sport’s history.
“It is like we wanted. We had to fight a bit more than in Paraguay, but we can be pleased with how we ended up. I’m happy and looking forward to switching to tarmac.”
Ogier reflected
Toyota Extends Dominance
Toyota celebrated its 10th win of the 2025 season, stretching its lead over Hyundai Motorsport to 125 points and edging closer to a fifth consecutive manufacturers’ title. Ogier’s performance also ensured he will open the road at the next round, the Central European Rally, a strategic advantage on sealed-surface stages.
Podium Finishers
Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux delivered a strong run in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 to claim third, 46.5 seconds behind Ogier, marking his third podium of the year. Thierry Neuville finished fourth, though the Belgian voiced frustration that his pace was not reflected in the stage times.
Kalle Rovanperä, who arrived in Chile second in the standings, dropped to third overall after finishing sixth. His rally was compromised by a tyre debeading incident on day one, leaving him 21 points adrift of Ogier.
WRC2 Crown Decided
Further down the leaderboard, Oliver Solberg wrapped up the WRC2 championship, securing the title with co-driver Elliott Edmondson after fending off Nikolay Gryazin.
Rally Chile Bio Bío – Final Standings
- S. Ogier / V. Landais (FRA) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – 2h 55m 42.1s
- E. Evans / S. Martin (GBR) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +11.0s
- A. Fourmaux / A. Coria (FRA) – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +46.5s
- T. Neuville / M. Wydaeghe (BEL) – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +59.0s
- S. Pajari / M. Salminen (FIN) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +1m 03.4s
- K. Rovanperä / J. Halttunen (FIN) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +1m 53.7s
Drivers’ Championship Standings (After Round 11 of 14)
- S. Ogier – 224pts
- E. Evans – 222pts
- K. Rovanperä – 203pts
The WRC now shifts to Europe for the Central European Rally (16–19 October 2025), with asphalt stages across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic promising another thrilling showdown.