Electric Cars

Chilean Rally Commences with Unexpected Shifts

Evans Seizes Control After Morning Drama

Elfyn Evans, driving for Toyota, has emerged as the frontrunner in the early stages of Rally Chile. His ascent to the top position followed a significant setback for his team-mate, Kalle Rovanpera, a strong contender in the World Rally Championship, who encountered a costly tire issue. Evans showcased a commendable performance from the very beginning, navigating the challenging terrain with precision.

The Impact of Weather and Tire Strategy

Persistent heavy rainfall leading up to the rally left the stages damp, surprisingly mitigating the usual road-cleaning disadvantage for early runners. These variable conditions also prompted Hankook, the tire supplier, to adjust its tire allocation rules based on team requests. This strategic change significantly influenced how drivers approached the initial runs.

Rovanpera's Promising Start and Sudden Misfortune

Initially, Kalle Rovanpera demonstrated exceptional command over the wet conditions, securing the fastest times in the opening stages. Despite acknowledging that his first run wasn't "perfect," he was noticeably quicker than Evans. He continued his dominance in the second stage, extending his lead over Hyundai's Ott Tanak. However, his strong momentum was abruptly halted in the third stage when a wide slide resulted in a punctured left-rear tire. Although he avoided stopping to change the wheel, the incident cost him a substantial 1 minute and 11.9 seconds, relegating him from first to ninth position.

Evans Capitalizes on Rival's Misfortune

Following Rovanpera's tire misfortune, Evans claimed victory in the third stage, gaining a crucial second over Tanak. This impressive run propelled the Welsh driver into the overall rally lead. Evans commented that the inclement weather conditions had inadvertently favored his performance, allowing him to navigate the stages effectively.

Challenges for Hyundai and Other Competitors

The morning loop proved challenging for the Hyundai team, with all three drivers reporting difficulties with their i20 N vehicles' handling. Despite these issues, Ott Tanak managed to adapt best to the conditions. Adrien Fourmaux experienced a wild slide but maintained third place. Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville expressed his extreme frustration, describing his car's handling as a "nightmare" and finding himself in fifth place. Toyota's Sebastien Ogier also struggled with his GR Yaris's feel, losing significant time and stating he was "on the limit" and required car adjustments.

Notable Performances and WRC2 Standings

Amidst the top-tier competition, Toyota's Sami Pajari displayed bursts of speed, positioning himself in sixth place. M-Sport-Ford's Gregoire Munster faced a setback with a broken gear lever, impacting his performance. Takamoto Katsuta, another Toyota driver, finished the loop in eighth, grappling with setup issues and a lack of familiarity with the Chilean stages. In the WRC2 category, Oliver Solberg took the lead despite an early spin, holding a 5.9-second advantage over Emil Lindholm, with title rivals Nikolay Gryazin, Gus Greensmith, and Yohan Rossel closely following. A victory for Solberg in Chile would secure him the championship title.

Anticipation for the Afternoon Stages

The rally participants are now preparing for a repeat of the morning's three stages, which will bring Friday's action to a close. The unpredictable conditions and early drama promise an exciting conclusion to the day's racing

Yamaha's highly anticipated V4-powered MotoGP machine had its inaugural public appearance at the San Marino Grand Prix, revealing both its strengths and areas needing development. While test rider Augusto Fernandez's performance was notable, showcasing the bike's raw potential, the day also highlighted the ongoing challenges in perfecting the new prototype. The team views this initial outing as a crucial step, with valuable data gathered for future enhancements, signaling a determined effort by Yamaha to reclaim its competitive edge in the sport.

Yamaha's V4 MotoGP Prototype Makes Track Debut at Misano, Revealing Key Insights

On Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli, Yamaha Factory Racing unveiled its new V4-powered MotoGP bike for its first public track session during the San Marino Grand Prix practice. Spanish test rider Augusto Fernandez was at the helm of the experimental M1. Despite finishing 19th on the leaderboard, his performance provided crucial insights into the bike's capabilities and areas for enhancement.

Early in the first practice session, Fernandez quickly demonstrated the prototype's inherent speed, logging laps within a second of the fastest times. However, a sensor malfunction led to an automatic shutdown, temporarily halting his run. After switching to a backup bike, he returned to the track, ultimately placing 21st, just under a second behind factory rider Fabio Quartararo. Notably, Fernandez was closely matched with Alex Rins, who finished 18th, and trailed Pramac duo Jack Miller and Miguel Oliveira by only half a second, underscoring the bike's promising pace.

During the afternoon session, Fernandez completed an additional 20 laps before a low-speed fall at Turn 2 brought his day to an early close. Nevertheless, he expressed satisfaction with the progress, particularly noting the significant improvements in rear-end grip and management—a long-standing challenge for previous Yamaha models. Quartararo himself acknowledged Fernandez's speed and the V4 bike's potential, emphasizing the need for extensive setup adjustments.

Fernandez highlighted that while some aspects of the previous M1 still hold an advantage, the V4's advancements in rear grip are substantial. He stressed the importance of finding the optimal balance to integrate the front-end performance of the standard bike with the enhanced rear of the V4 prototype. The ability of the team to successfully implement changes based on prior private testing issues further reinforced the positive outlook.

A notable achievement for Fernandez was his competitive one-lap pace, especially considering the constraints of limited tire availability and suboptimal track conditions during previous private tests, which prevented proper time attack simulations. This public debut offered the first true opportunity for such evaluations.

Looking ahead, Yamaha plans to gather more comprehensive data during the upcoming sprint and Sunday's main grand prix event, with particular focus on the bike's performance in disturbed air. An additional race outing is scheduled for the Malaysian Grand Prix in October to assess the V4 in hot weather conditions, continuing Yamaha's commitment to rigorous development.

Reflecting on Innovation: The Path to MotoGP Excellence

The debut of Yamaha's V4 MotoGP prototype underscores the relentless pursuit of innovation in motorsports. This initial public test, marked by a mix of encouraging performance and expected developmental hurdles, reminds us that significant advancements often come through iterative processes and dedicated effort. It highlights the importance of adapting to challenges, learning from every track session, and continuously refining designs to push the boundaries of technology. For Yamaha, this V4 project represents not just a new engine configuration, but a broader commitment to regaining their competitive standing, emphasizing that even seasoned giants must continually evolve to thrive in an ever-demanding arena.