Concepción comes alive for WRC Chile opening ceremony

The Plaza de la Independencia provided the backdrop as crews and cars were presented to an enthusiastic Chilean crowd ahead of three days of competition on the gravel roads of the Bío Bío region.

Fans lined the streets surrounding the square long before the ceremonial start, with drivers stopping for photographs and autographs before the Rally1 machinery took centre stage.

The biggest cheer of the evening, however, was reserved for Chilean football hero Arturo Vidal. The former Bayern Munich and Juventus star stepped onto the stage alongside local rallying royalty Jorge Martínez, sending the Concepción crowd into a frenzy.

The event officially opened the fifth WRC edition of Rally Chile BIOBÍO and round 12 of the 2026 championship, which is again based around Concepción as the second half of the WRC’s South American double-header.

WRC Rally Chile Biobío 2026, Jorge Martínez and Arturo Vidal
© WRC | @World

The atmosphere continued into the evening as competitors passed through crowds lining the city-centre streets and onto the start ramp, providing a colourful send-off before the serious business begins on Friday morning.

Rally Chile BIOBÍO features 16 special stages and 311.7 competitive kilometres, with the extensively revised Turquía test opening proceedings. Friday’s route also includes Nuevo Rere and Hualqui, each tackled twice.