Sami Pajari became the first driver to score his first three World Rally Championship wins in consecutive events with his victory in Paraguay last month and the Finn will be looking to continue his charge towards the top of the standings in this week's Rally Chile.
The Toyota driver sits second, 20 points behind his team-mate Elfyn Evans with two more rallies to go after this one, but the title-chase leader could make himself some breathing room in Concepcion.
Rally Chile Tips Summary
Best Bet - Elfyn Evans to win @ 8/1
Alternative Bet - Adrien Fourmaux podium finish @ 10/11
Rally Chile Prediction
Best Bet: Elfyn Evans to win @ 8/1
Five-time world championship runner-up Evans lost the title lead at the final event of last season and again finds himself in the familiar position of long-time title-chase leader but with a fast-closing rival breathing down his neck.
While Pajari has won the last three races in a row, Evans has won just twice all season.
However, having led the standings for most of the last two seasons, he usually runs first on the road through the first day of competition, which means getting the worst of conditions in gravel events.
Chile is another race run on a loose surface, but with the forecast for morning rain on Friday, Evans could find running first on the road turns to his advantage.
Evans has yet to win in Chile, but he was second in each of the last two years and third in 2023, so he is clearly comfortable with the challenge the route offers.
Last year's winner, nine-time champion Sebastien Ogier, heads the betting, but he is just sixth in the standings with two wins and crashed in each of the last two rallies.
Pajari, next in the market is an obvious threat, while Oliver Solberg is finding some consistency and is rated a 4/1 chance. The Swede sealed the WRC2 title in Chile last year but hasn't won since the season opener in Monte Carlo.
At the odds, though, Evans looks well worth support.
Alternative Bet: Adrien Fourmaux podium finish @ 10/11
Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux has been one of the most consistent drivers of the season, but he must also be one of the unluckiest.
The Frenchman has recorded 11 career podiums and 48 stage wins but never taken a WRC rally victory.
He came closest in last season's finale in Saudi Arabia, where only a one-minute penalty for checking in to Friday's time control 10 seconds early denied him the win.
Another potential victory went begging in Paraguay last time as Fourmaux lost 90 seconds changing a tyre on the opening day.
After a stunning recovery drive, which included winning nine of the 22 stages, he ended up 40 seconds off the lead in third.
Fourmaux held the Friday night lead in Chile last year before finishing third and he looks a decent price to at least make the podium again.
Key Race Stats
Sebastien Ogier is the only previous winner in the field
This year's route features 40% previously unused roads
Sami Pajari has won the last three rallies
Elfyn Evans leads the standings by 20 points
Adrien Fourmaux earned his third podium of the season last time in Paraguay
Oliver Solberg has two second places from the last three rallies
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
