Chile should be an interesting experience according to Loeb

On the heels of his second consecutive victory in WRC this year, thanks to the back-to-back successes of Thierry Neuville in Corsica and Argentina, Hyundai Motorsport will show up in a week from Rally from Chile, with strong morale.

The Korean brand will also be able to count on the return to its ranks of Sébastien Loeb, absent in Argentina. Like the entire WRC peloton, the nine-time world champion will discover the Chilean terrain, his first round on gravel with the i20 Coupe WRC.

“The fact that it is a gravel event is one of the only things I really know about the Rally Chile,” comments the Alsatian. Like the rest of the WRC drivers, I can't wait to find out more.

Chile is not a country I have been to very often, in fact, only once to watch the Dakar. From what I've seen, the roads seem pretty smooth, through the forest and on fairly smooth gravel.

There is no doubt that it will be an interesting experience and a great rally on the calendar, but we will have to wait until we get on the ground to find out more. »

No driver will have the advantage of knowledge of the terrain, thus being able to offer the Frenchman a good chance of ranking well, while also benefiting from a potential good position in the running order.

Un paramètre que devra en revanche gérer au mieux Thierry Neuville, leader du championnat. Mais le Belge se dit prêt au combat. Se dirige-t-on alors vers une troisième victoire consécutive de Hyundai en 2019, exploit que seul Toyota, with Ott Tänak, made last year? First elements of response in a week.