Juha Kankkunen, the legendary Finnish rally driver, has an uncanny instinct for spotting talent. His pre-rally prediction that Oliver Solberg would be a force to be reckoned with in Chile proved spot on, as the young Swede stormed to a dominant victory.
Rally Chile was a landmark event for Toyota, as their one-two finish secured a historic 10th manufacturers' title, drawing level with Lancia. However, the triumph was not without drama, as championship leader Elfyn Evans suffered a puncture on the penultimate stage, dropping from second to fifth.
Kankkunen, who serves as a mentor to Solberg, expressed sympathy for Evans but stressed that punctures are part of the game. He praised the decision to increase the tyre allocation from the usual 28 to 36, calling it a wise move.
"To be honest, changing the tyre allocation helped. It was the best decision they have ever made," Kankkunen said. "Everyone was happy about that, because if you have 50 punctures like in Paraguay, that's not the way the results should be decided. The order should be settled by driving and fighting man against man. That is always the best way."
Kankkunen revealed that he often has a premonition before a rally about which drivers will be strong. "I always have some sort of feeling. Before the rally, when I speak with everyone, you can somehow smell it. I have been in the same situation many times myself, so I can get a sense of who is strongest at that particular rally."
In Chile, he had two clear favourites: Solberg and Sebastien Ogier. Solberg took a clear victory, while Ogier moved up to second after Evans' puncture. "I knew that if Oliver stayed on the road, he definitely wouldn't be slow. I have been talking to him for many months. I also took into account that his road position was quite good, as was Seb's," Kankkunen explained.
"So those were the two I particularly had in mind. Seb had the best road position, especially if it had been dry. It was wet, which gave Elfyn an advantage and made things a little more equal."
Solberg's victory in Chile not only validated Kankkunen's foresight but also underscored the young driver's immense potential in the WRC. Meanwhile, Toyota has etched its name in history with a 10th manufacturers' title, matching Lancia's record, and remains in contention for more silverware this season.
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