Rally Chile 2026 schedule and championship implications announced

The 2026 Rally Chile is scheduled to take place from September 10 to 13, 2026, featuring 16 timed special stages covering a total of 311 km. The event begins with a shakedown on Thursday, followed by official competition starting Friday morning.

In the Rally1 category, Toyota is expected to field five cars, including nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier and Takamoto Katsuta, who will be accompanied by co-driver James Fulton. Hyundai will enter three cars, with Esapekka Lappi taking the third seat. M-Sport will field two cars for its Irish drivers.

The rally serves as a critical juncture in the WRC championship. With 70 points at stake, the results could mathematically eliminate several title contenders. Elfyn Evans faces significant competition from Sami Pajari, who has secured three consecutive victories and has narrowed the gap to the championship leader to approximately twenty points.