Sebastien Ogier, representing Toyota, acknowledged that his quest for a record-equalling ninth world rally championship is likely finished after he had to retire during the foggy penultimate stage of Rally Chile. Teammate Kalle Rovanperä leads the rally, with a 15.1-second cushion over Elfyn Evans, who had initially secured a significant lead after claiming victory in three out of the four morning stages. However, his dominance was cut short in the penultimate stage, where worsening weather and heavy fog hindered his performance.

Rovanperä described the driving conditions as exceptionally difficult, stating that the fog created one of the toughest challenges he has ever faced in rally racing. He expressed the sheer difficulty of navigating the stages safely, which intensified due to the visibility issues. In a disappointing turn of events for Ogier, he collided with a rock just 400 meters from the end of stage eight, resulting in a steering breakdown that left him unable to maneuver the vehicle, ultimately placing it in a ditch.

Ogier reflected on the situation, noting that while it appears his championship aspirations are over, he is not overly disappointed, considering that the title chase became a focus for him only a couple of rallies prior to this event. In the overall standings, Hyundai's Thierry Neuville remains in fourth place, significantly ahead of Ogier in points, which adds to the competitive pressure. Currently, Hyundai is leading Toyota by 35 points in the manufacturers' championship rankings.