Oliver Solberg wins in Chile ahead of French duo

Oliver Solberg has strengthened his World Rally Championship challenge with victory in Chile, while Toyota secured its 10th constructors’ title. The result also put an end to a winless run for the Swedish driver since his season-opening success at Rallye Monte-Carlo.

Solberg completed the 16-stage event ahead of Sébastien Ogier and Adrien Fourmaux. Ogier finished almost 17 seconds behind, with Fourmaux a further 33 seconds adrift. The French pair’s podium places came after Elfyn Evans’ challenge was damaged by a puncture on the penultimate stage, costing the Welshman more than two minutes.

Solberg collected 29 of a possible 30 points in Chile and moved to within 21 points of Evans, who remains championship leader. Evans leads Sami Pajari by 17 points, while Ogier is 59 points off the top with only 60 still available from the final two rallies in Italy and Saudi Arabia. That leaves the nine-time champion’s pursuit of a 10th drivers’ crown dependent on an unlikely turnaround.

Toyota’s manufacturers’ triumph matches Lancia’s record of 10 world titles. Solberg’s Chile success was his third in the top category and followed a season in which the former WRC2 champion had endured mixed results before returning to the front.