Rally Chile will see a revised tyre strategy this weekend, with the FIA increasing the tyre allocation for Rally1 crews following the problems encountered during Rally Paraguay.
Rally1 drivers will now have 36 tyres available for the event, up from the usual allocation of 28 for a gravel rally. The change has been introduced as a precaution ahead of what is expected to be another demanding weekend on abrasive Chilean gravel. Rally2 crews, meanwhile, will retain their standard allocation of 30 tyres.
The decision comes after Rally Paraguay produced a series of punctures and tyre delaminations. According to Hankook, the combination of unusually warm temperatures and extremely abrasive road surfaces resulted in significantly higher tyre wear than anticipated.
The conditions in Paraguay proved particularly challenging on Friday, with long stage loops, compacted clay and exposed bedrock putting additional stress on the tyres. Hankook acknowledged that the aggressiveness of the roads was greater than expected, highlighting the difficulty of predicting tyre behaviour under such conditions.
Rally Chile presents another potential test for tyre durability. The event has already developed a reputation for being demanding on tyres, with the 2023 edition also featuring several failures.
With the increased allocation, Rally1 crews will have greater flexibility when managing their tyres throughout the rally. However, the additional sets are unlikely to remove the strategic challenge, as teams will still need to balance performance, durability and the changing characteristics of the stages.
The decision also highlights the importance of tyre development ahead of the 2027 WRC regulations. Hankook is continuing its development programme alongside the manufacturers, with the exact specification for next season yet to be finalised.
For the crews competing in Chile, tyre management could once again become one of the defining factors of the rally. With high-speed gravel stages and potentially abrasive surfaces, preserving tyre performance without sacrificing pace will be crucial from the opening stage to the finish.
Photo Credits: Toyota
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