Oliver Solberg leads Elfyn Evans by 10.1 seconds after Friday in Chile, with Toyota placing three cars among the top four.
Oliver Solberg finished Friday, September 11, at the head of Rally Chile Biobío, carrying a 10.1-second lead over World Rally Championship leader Elfyn Evans after six stages near Concepción.
The Toyota driver covered the opening leg in 52m42.1s after rain made the Chilean gravel slick and muddy. Evans holds second, with Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux third and 18.0 seconds behind the leader.
Solberg turns difficult conditions into the lead
Thierry Neuville took the SS3 win on Hualqui 1 as crews dealt with changing grip during a wet and dry opening loop. Solberg then moved 2.3 seconds ahead of Evans and stretched the gap through the afternoon stages.
Solberg heads into Saturday's six tests in control, although the leading group is still closely bunched.
Toyota places three cars in the top four
Sébastien Ogier ended the leg in fourth, 19.7 seconds behind Solberg and 1.7 seconds adrift of Fourmaux. Sami Pajari put another Toyota in fifth at 21.7 seconds back, while Neuville completed Friday in sixth for Hyundai with a 27.4-second deficit.
Toyota can clinch the manufacturers' championship in Chile if the necessary results fall its way.
Ogier's appearance also leaves him in position to match Jari-Matti Latvala's record for WRC starts during the 16-stage event.
Evans and Pajari remain close on the road
Evans reached Chile holding a 20-point championship lead over Pajari, down from 30 points after Rally del Paraguay. Pajari came into Round 12 on a run of three consecutive WRC victories.
They ended Friday 11.6 seconds apart, with Evans second and Pajari fifth. The drivers' championship cannot be settled in Chile.
Josh McErlean was the leading Ford Puma Rally1 driver in seventh, 1m54.5s behind Solberg. Jon Armstrong sat 2.4 seconds further back, while Hyundai's Esapekka Lappi rounded out the Rally1 runners inside the top nine, 2m06.0s off the lead.
Hyundai's 2027 decision remains open
Hyundai has not decided whether to continue its WRC program beyond 2026. The manufacturer is also developing a new Rally2 car, with testing set to begin.
No withdrawal or reduction in Hyundai's Rally1 operation has been confirmed. Fourmaux, Neuville and Lappi remain active in Chile, and all three were classified inside the top nine after SS6.
Gryazin leads WRC2 for Lancia
Nikolay Gryazin leads WRC2 in a Lancia Ypsilon HF and holds 10th overall, 3m08.7s behind Solberg. Lancia secured the WRC2 teams' championship before the Chilean round.
Chile also hosts the Junior WRC season finale. Robert Virves can secure the WRC2 Challenger drivers' title with a victory, while Johannes Keferböck and co-driver Ilka Minor remain in contention for the WRC Masters crowns.
Saturday features six more stages
Rally Chile restarts Saturday, September 12, with SS7 to SS12 on the Pelún and Lota loops. Pelún 1 begins at 08:08 ET, with Lota 1 following at 09:01 ET.
The 311.70-kilometer rally finishes Sunday, September 13, with SS13 through SS16 and the Power Stage.
