Rally Chile Bio Bío: Škoda crews hope for top WRC2 positions at second South American event

› Estonians Robert Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) enter the twelfth round of the FIA World Rally Championship as WRC2 leaders
› Finishing their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 debut at Rally del Paraguay fourth in WRC2, Taylor Gill and navigator Daniel Brkic from Australia target more championship points
› Fabrizio Zaldívar from Paraguay and Italian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) want to build on last year’s fifth position in WRC2

Mladá Boleslav, 10 September 2026 – The FIA World Rally Championship enters its decisive phase. Rally Chile Bio Bío (10-13 September 2026) is the twelfth of 14 rounds. Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew Robert Virves/Jakko Viilo have two events left to score points for the WRC2 classification. With four WRC2 victories already under their belts, both are in a strong position in the title chase.

For Toksport WRT’s Robert Virves and co-driver Jakko Viilo, Rally Chile Bio Bío will be new territory. “From the onboard videos I have watched, the gravel stages look nice and fast. They should suit our Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. I see no reason why we should not collect more championship points,” says Robert Virves.

In WRC2, the points of only six from a maximum of seven rallies count for the overall classification. With only three events left in the 2026 season, mathematics comes into play. Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo currently lead the WRC2 Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ classification with 100 points from five events. Runners-up Roope Korhonen/Anssi Viinikka have collected 79 points across six rallies. Third-placed Teemu Suninen/Janni Hussi stand on 76 points from four events. However, both Finnish crews are not competing in Chile. This leaves Nikolay Gryazin/Konstantin Aleksandrov (66 points) and Léo Rossel/Guillaume Mercoiret (64 points) as the main threats for the Estonian Škoda pairing.

Taylor Gill and co-driver Daniel Brkic competed for Toksport WRT for the first time during Rally del Paraguay two weeks ago. The Australians drove the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 to fourth position in WRC2. “I never expected this, because the event was new to us. We don’t know Rally Chile Bio Bío either. However, we have a great car and a professional team behind us. This gives me confidence to achieve another top result, and make great progress in my carrier,” Taylor Gill looks ahead.

A ninth-place finish in the WRC2 category was not quite what Paraguayan driver Fabrizio 'Fau' Zaldívar had hoped for in his home event. “I want to do better in Chile,” says the
25-year-old, who will again share the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 run by MZR Paraguay with Italian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian. They finished fifth in WRC2 in the Chilean championship round last year and sixth in 2024. “I like the stages and I am confident that we can achieve a good result,” says Fau Zaldívar.

Two more Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 have been entered by local Jorge Martínez Fontena and Argentinian navigator Rubén García, as well as by Miguel Granados and co-driver Marc Martí. The Mexican-Spanish pair are competing as the reigning champions of the WRC Masters Cup, which is reserved for drivers aged fifty and over.

Based in the city of Concepción on the Pacific coast, Rally Chile Bio Bío features fast and technical gravel stages that often run through privately owned forests. Visibility is often limited by fog and tree cover, making the stages especially demanding. The event starts on Thursday evening (10 September) with a spectacular ceremonial start in the heart of the host city Concepción. On Friday, six special stages totalling 101.3 kilometres must be driven. Saturday brings another six stages over 139.2 kilometres. 71.20 competitive kilometres across four stages round off the event on Sunday (13 September). Afterwards, the podium ceremony will take place in front of the Hotel Casino Marina del Sol.

Did you know that…

...Rally Chile Bio Bío celebrated its FIA World Rally Championship debut in 2019 and this year marks its fifth appearance in the series?

…the gravel stages have a unique character with fast, flowing, and sometimes incredibly narrow roads?

…the host city, Concepción, is the country’s second-largest city?

...that September date means, Rally Chile Bio Bío takes place at the end of the South American winter?

Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 11 of 14 events)
1 Robert Virves (EST), Škoda, 100 points (from 5 rallies)
2 Roope Korhonen (FIN), Toyota, 79 points (from 6 rallies)
3 Teemu Suninen (FIN), Toyota, 76 points (from 4 rallies)
4 Nikolay Gryazin (BUL), Lancia, 66 points (from 5 rallies)
5 Léo Rossel (FRA), Lancia, 64 points (from 5 rallies)

2026 FIA World Rally Championship

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