Sami Pajari and co-driver Marko Salminen are set to contest the second South American round of the World Rally Championship in Chile. It is the 11th round of the season, a reminder that the year is inexorably entering its final stretch. Only a fortnight ago the crews were battling in Paraguay; now the caravan has crossed Argentina and the Andes, travelling some 2,500 kilometres by road to the Pacific coastline and the rally base in Concepción.
Chile’s roads have often been likened to Finland’s, though echoes of classic New Zealand or Wales are also evident. For competitors, there is comfort in familiarity: the route is unchanged from last year.
The landscape, wedged between mountains and ocean, brings its own unpredictability. Sunshine, fog and torrential rain can all arrive within the same day. While the rally remains largely below 600 metres in altitude, the elevation changes are nonetheless more pronounced than in Paraguay.
Road conditions will once again play a decisive role. On dry gravel, the early runners face the task of sweeping loose stones; in damp weather, the deficit evens out. Tyre wear has been a talking point in previous editions, and with a new supplier in place this year, it will be intriguing to see which crews best master the degradation.
The stages are generally fast and flowing, with cambered corners that reward commitment. Add in South America’s famously passionate fans and the rally acquires a distinctive atmosphere that has always appealed to Pajari.
“I already have Rally1 experience here from last year and I really enjoyed it,” Pajari said. “We weren’t far off the lead after the opening day – just 12 seconds back in fourth – before the conditions became trickier and there was plenty to learn. The roads remind me a lot of Finland, and our performance in recent rallies has been encouraging. We’ll try to carry that momentum into Chile.”
The rally follows a traditional timetable. Thursday morning hosts shakedown, with a ceremonial start in the evening. Friday brings three stages, each run twice, totalling just under 113 kilometres through the central valley inland.
On Saturday, crews face another trio of tests, again repeated, adding more than 139 kilometres to the tally – including the rally’s longest challenge, the 28.3-kilometre María Las Cruces. Sunday concludes proceedings with two double-run stages, covering 54.8 kilometres. For European fans the action will be late-night viewing: with Chile six hours behind Helsinki, competitive days begin in the local afternoon and run well into the evening.
Photo: Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool