Toyota refuses to give up the WRC title fight in Chile

Toyota is refusing to give up its fight for the World Rally Championship this weekend in Chile, despite previously admitting its title hopes were “all but gone”.

The Japanese manufacturer has won the last three WRC constructors' and drivers' titles, but its hopes of defending the title have been seriously threatened by Hyundai.

Although Toyota has won six of the ten rounds this season – two more than rival Hyundai – the company heads to the dirt roads of Chile 35 points behind the Korean brand, with three rounds of the season (165 points) still to go.

In the drivers' standings, eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier, who is competing in a partial season, leads Toyota's line-up, but is 38 points behind Hyundai's Thierry Neuville after the latter rolled over in Greece earlier this month.

While the title fight seems to be going in Hyundai's direction, Toyota team boss Jari-Matti Latvala does not want to admit that the fight is over before the Rally Chile.

“The last two rallies did not go as we had hoped in terms of our championship ambitions, but we will not give up the fight,” said Latvala.

“We will keep pushing and focus on winning the last three rounds of the season and doing everything we can to keep the pressure on. Our team is highly motivated to get a good result in Chile and with Elfyn, Seb and Kalle we have a very strong driver line-up to fight for the win.

“The special stages there are generally fast and flowing, which should suit our drivers and our car. What we found last year is that tyre wear can be quite high in dry conditions, so we have to be careful about that.”

Meanwhile, its rival Hyundai is travelling to Chile with the firm intention of not losing its role in the title race.

After taking a one-two-three victory at the Acropolis Rally earlier this month, team boss Cyril Abiteboul said his team would approach Rally Chile with “great caution”.

“We are approaching the Rally Chile with optimism and momentum, but at the same time we are approaching the race with great caution,” said Abiteboul.

“Greece was a fantastic demonstration of what can be achieved with great teamwork, but it is imperative that we do not lose focus in the final events of the season.

“The Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid has proven its robustness and reliability in other gravel rallies this season, so we want to finish the last event on this surface strongly before returning to asphalt.

“Every point counts, so we need to be at the top of the standings by Saturday night before we judge how hard we need to push on Sunday.”

“Our primary goal is to defend our lead in all three classifications, but we still want to push for wins and podium places.”