Elfyn Evans rose to the occasion under immense pressure at SS13 of Rally Chile. The Toyota driver set the fastest time on the Carampangue stage, beating teammate Sebastien Ogier by 4.1 seconds. This result not only strengthened his position in the Super Sunday standings but also underlined his determination to secure maximum points and move a step closer to his first world title.
Throughout the season, Evans has been a model of consistency. But in Chile, he faced a stern test: a fierce battle with Ogier, who was also eyeing victory. SS13 proved pivotal as Evans gained the upper hand over Ogier, who had been impressive earlier. "It was quite a decent run, but maybe it wasn't perfect everywhere," Evans admitted modestly. Nevertheless, his time spoke volumes: he also took 5.9 seconds out of rally leader Oliver Solberg.
Solberg, who has been a revelation this rally, still leads the overall standings by 13.2 seconds over Evans. However, Evans's pressure is mounting. Ogier himself now trails Evans by 5.4 seconds, placing him third. The intense battle among the three Toyota drivers is the main talking point in Chile.
In the Hyundai camp, Adrien Fourmaux was the fastest driver on SS13 for a long time before misfortune struck. A slow puncture near the end cost him valuable time. "I probably lost five seconds over the final five kilometres. The sun was shining straight into my eyes and I thought I was on the line, but then I felt a hit at the right rear. It's a shame. But at least I tried," Fourmaux said. Despite this, he remains second in the Super Sunday standings, just 1.7 seconds behind Evans.
Meanwhile, Sami Pajari, running fifth overall, could not match the pace of the leaders. He finished 11.1 seconds behind Evans on SS13. "Hopefully we can score some points, but taking the maximum points could be difficult. I tried to have a good stage, but it felt slow in many places," Pajari said. The Finn now sits fifth in the Super Sunday standings.
Esapekka Lappi of Hyundai is sixth in the rally but already nearly five minutes off the lead. With three stages remaining on Sunday, opportunities to move forward are still open, but it will require a monumental effort.
Rally Chile has three stages left. Evans currently leads the Super Sunday standings, followed by Fourmaux, Ogier, Solberg, and Pajari. The overall standings are still led by Solberg, but Evans and Ogier are ready to put up a fierce fight to the finish.
For Evans, every point counts. A Super Sunday victory would give him valuable additional points in the title race. However, he cannot afford to relax as Ogier and Solberg remain genuine threats. Rally Chile will be a test of mental strength and strategy for all drivers.
Read Also
Oliver Solberg calls Sebastien Ogier a 'monster' in tyre management after holding Rally Chile lead. Read about his strategy and championship chances.
Carlberg's huge crash in Junior WRC Chile ends his title hopes and all but confirms Ali Turkkan as champion. Read the full analysis.
Esapekka Lappi overhauls Hyundai setup and praises co-driver Enni Malkonen after a more positive Saturday at Rally Finland. Read more.
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