Alejandro Cachon and co-driver Borja Rozada suffered a terrifying crash on SS6 of Rally Chile 2026 on Friday afternoon. Their Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 hit a bank after a crest and began rolling at high speed, tumbling a long way along the road before coming to rest at the roadside. The incident forced organizers to halt the Hualqui special stage and deploy medical crews to the scene.
According to rally organizers, Cachon and Rozada were conscious after the crash. Nevertheless, they were airlifted to a local hospital for further examinations. This is a major blow for Cachon, who had already crashed out on the opening stage of Rally Paraguay just two weeks ago. Two consecutive accidents in as many events will undoubtedly weigh heavily on the young Spaniard's morale.
The Hualqui stage was restarted but was halted again after only a few more cars. This time, the cause was a crash involving Yuki Yamamoto, part of the Toyota WRC team's challenge programme, and his Finnish co-driver Topi Luhtinen. They were also taken to hospital for further examinations. This incident adds to the long list of crashes that marred Friday in Chile.
Earlier on Friday, Turkish driver Kerem Kazaz and French co-driver Corentin Silvestre were airlifted to hospital after crashing on the opening stage. Both remained in hospital overnight. Kazaz was not injured, but specialists will carry out further examinations on Silvestre. His condition remains a primary concern for the medical team.
This series of incidents highlights the extreme risks inherent in rough-terrain rallies like Chile. The challenging nature of the stages—rocky, with numerous blind crests—demands high precision and immense bravery. When drivers lose control after a crest, the consequences can be severe. Even the Rally2 cars competing in WRC2 are not immune to such dangers.
The impact of these crashes could also shift the competitive landscape in the WRC2 class. With Cachon out, rivals such as Oliver Solberg or Sami Pajari may benefit in the points battle. However, the most important thing right now is the health of the drivers and co-drivers involved. Rally Chile 2026 still has several stages remaining, but safety must remain the top priority.
The FIA and organizers are expected to conduct a thorough review of safety procedures on the Hualqui stage and others. This string of incidents serves as a reminder that rallying, while full of adrenaline, carries risks that cannot be ignored. Our thoughts are with all those affected, and we wish them a speedy recovery.
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