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The Estonian led from the second of the 16 speed tests on Friday morning in his Toyota Yaris. He controlled his pace on wet, slippery and foggy forest tracks to claim his second win of the season by 23.1 seconds from Sebastien Ogier.
Victory in Chile promoted him to second in the drivers’ standings overall. He is 10 points behind Ogier, who replaced previous WRC leader Thierry Neuville who crashed and rolled his car seven times out of the rally on the second day.
Aside from an overshoot in the first speed test, Tanak was firmly in control, quickly getting to grips with the tricky conditions and co-driver Martin Jarveoja coping with pace notes required for the new rally course.
“It was a difficult and demanding weekend. I needed a lot of focus and energy to be perfect. We weren’t on the limit all the time,” said Tanak.
Toyota GAZOO Racing’s Kris Meeke and Sebastian Marshall finished eighth, maintaining their fourth position on the overall leader-board. The Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team is second on the manufacturers board.
The championship moves to Portugal for the next round starting 30 May.
Copec Rally Chile results:
1. Ott Tanak, 3 hours 15 minutes 53.8 seconds
2. Sebastien Ogier, 23.1 behind
3. Sebastien Loeb, 30.2 behind
4. Elfyn Evans, 1:36.7 behind
5. Teemu Suninen, 3:15.6 behind
Progress points:
World Driver’s Championship:
1. Ogier, 122 points
2. Tanak, 112
3. Neuville, 110
World Manufacturer’s Championship:
1. Hyundai, 178 points
2. Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, 149
3. Citroen, 143
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