Confirmed
WRC: increased tyre allocation for Rally Chile confirmed
The FIA has confirmed an increased tyre allocation for Rally Chile, addressing concerns over tyre wear on abrasive gravel stages.
The FIA has confirmed an increase in the tyre allocation for World Rally Championship crews competing at Rally Chile. This decision adds eight additional tyres, raising the total from 28 to 36 for Rally1 competitors. The change aims to mitigate tyre failures on the demanding gravel stages, as reported by Motorsport.com.
Tyre Wear Concerns Addressed
The previous Rally Paraguay saw numerous punctures and tyre delaminations. Motorsport.com reported that Hankook, the WRC tyre supplier, attributed these issues to a combination of long stage loops, unexpectedly high temperatures, and rough conditions. Rally Chile's stages have historically presented a high risk of punctures. The 2023 event, under then-supplier Pirelli, also saw several tyre failures.
The increased allocation permits crews a choice between a maximum of 16 soft and 28 hard Hankook tyres. Teams can also supply up to two replacement tyres at a designated area in Arauco, after the refuel zones. Used tyres must be returned in exchange.
Drivers Welcome Allocation Boost
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT's Elfyn Evans, current WRC championship leader with 201 points, welcomed the change. He noted the varied stage types in Chile, describing Friday's as fast but narrow, and Saturday's as wider but still challenging for tyre wear. Evans explicitly stated, "I think realistically there was no way to make it through the day without those extra tyres so that was the bare minimum." He anticipates Saturday afternoon will remain tough for tyres. Evans is among several drivers who experienced tyre failures in Paraguay. Kalle Rovanperä, a Finnish driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, will also benefit from this increased allocation.
Hyundai's Thierry Neuville, another driver affected by tyre issues in Paraguay, also supported the decision. Neuville commented that the increased allocation should "slightly decrease the risk of delaminations." He highlighted the long loops and stages, particularly on Saturday afternoon, as reasons why the added tyres are "very welcome."
Strategic Approach Still Required
Despite the additional tyres, M-Sport-Ford's Josh McErlean suggested that a strategic approach will still be crucial. Drivers will need to manage their tyre usage carefully to complete the rally without incident. The Rally Chile route presents a challenge regardless of the increased allocation. The event is one of four remaining rounds in the 2026 WRC season, with Evans leading the championship over Finnish driver Kalle Rovanperä, who has 171 points, and Takamoto Katsuta with 160 points.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Motorsport.commotorsport.com
