WRC - WRC Rally Chile Bio Bío

The WRC Rally Chile Bio Bío returns to Concepción for its fifth appearance in the FIA World Rally Championship. Based in Chile's second-largest city, this South American rally offers a unique challenge on fast gravel stages. Concepción sits inland from the Pacific coast and provides the perfect base for this spectacular event. The rally showcases the distinctive forest roads and rugged terrain of the Bío Bío region.

About WRC Rally Chile Bio Bío

Rally Chile Bio Bío stands as the only South American round in the championship. The event features fast and technical gravel stages that wind through dense forest plantations. The stages run across privately owned timber land throughout the region. The roads offer a smooth, well-built surface that demands precision from every driver. Spectators can access several stages free of charge, bringing fans close to the action.

The Gravel Stages

The stages in the Bío Bío region combine speed with technical challenges. Drivers face fast, flowing roads that become incredibly narrow through the trees. The compact surface can turn loose off-line, creating additional difficulty. Weather plays a major role, with rain, mist, and coastal fog changing conditions rapidly. Tree-lined sections can disorient crews, making rhythm and accurate pace notes essential for success.

Drivers often compare these stages to Rally Finland and Wales Rally GB due to their fast lines and natural flow. The mountainous terrain offers variety, with conditions ranging from dry to muddy depending on the oceanic weather. Some stages provide stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The combination creates an unpredictable and demanding test for all competitors.

Expected Competitors

Rally1 Teams and Drivers

The 2026 WRC season features Rally1, Rally2, and Rally3 categories. All competitors use tires from official supplier Hankook Tire. The Rally1 category represents the pinnacle of competition, with regulations developed by the FIA alongside Hyundai, M-Sport, and Toyota.

Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team fields Thierry Neuville with co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe, and Adrien Fourmaux with Alexandre Coria for the full season. A third car rotates between crews led by Esapekka Lappi, Dani Sordo, and Hayden Paddon.

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT enters Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais for a partial program covering ten rallies. Oliver Solberg joins for his first full-time season in Rally1. Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta complete the Toyota lineup.

M-Sport Ford World Rally Team runs two full-time Ford Puma Rally1 cars. Josh McErlean partners with Owen Tracy in one car. Jon Armstrong drives alongside Shane Burn in the second entry. Grégoire Munster also features in the team's plans.

Technical Regulations for 2026

The 2026 season marks the final year for current Rally1 technical regulations. New rules focus on safety and consistency across all events.

Rest Period Requirements

Regulations now define competition and rest hours formally. Total rest hours must equal or exceed total competition hours, with an exception for opening day. Daily rest periods cannot drop below ten hours. At least one day must provide a minimum of twelve hours for recovery.

Engine and Competition Rules

Competitors can change engines after a rally starts, but face a 60-minute time penalty. Teams also lose eligibility to score championship points. Rally1 cars nominated for manufacturer points receive an exemption, allowing penalty-free engine changes from their pool of two sealed units.

Shakedown restrictions limit P2, P3, P4, and non-priority drivers to two passes maximum. New chicane regulations define implementation clearly, with a five-second penalty for completely displacing a chicane element. Late arrivals of more than ten minutes may bypass stages via alternative routes and receive notional times for safety reasons.

Rally History

Rally Chile joined the WRC calendar in 2019, making Chile the thirty-second country to host a championship event since 1973. Ott Tänak won the inaugural event with Hyundai. The rally faced challenges with Chilean protests affecting the 2020 event and the pandemic impacting 2021. The event did not run in 2022. The rally returned in 2023 with Ott Tänak claiming victory again, this time with M-Sport Ford. Kalle Rovanperä won in 2024 with Toyota, while Sébastien Ogier triumphed in 2025.

What Makes This Rally Special

The Bío Bío region builds its economy on forestry, and rally roads run through these working forests. The event has earned a reputation as a true driver's rally. Success requires confidence through blind corners and flowing cambers at high speed. Chilean fog can descend rapidly, turning clear valleys into low-visibility challenges within minutes.

Local drivers like brothers Pedro and Alberto Heller have competed in WRC2 categories, building enthusiasm for rallying in Chile. Alberto even drove a Rally1 car in 2023, demonstrating the country's growing connection to the sport. The ceremonial start has moved to Los Angeles, a town 90 minutes south of Concepción, spreading the event's reach beyond the main city.

Recent wildfires have altered some forested landscapes, making certain stages more open than in earlier editions. This changing environment adds another layer of challenge for returning crews. The WRC Rally Chile Bio Bío promises a severe test of speed, precision, and adaptability on South American gravel. The combination of fast forest roads, unpredictable weather, and technical demands creates compelling competition for drivers and teams.