WRC
Rally Chile Bio Bío reveals revamped route for 2026
Rally Chile Bio Bío will offer crews a refreshed challenge when the WRC arrives next month, with almost 40 per cent of the route comprising sections not previously used by the championship.
Details of the revised itinerary were revealed as part of the event’s official launch activities ahead of the 10 - 13 September fixture, which will mark Chile’s fifth appearance on the WRC calendar.
The biggest changes come on Friday, when the entire three-stage loop has been reworked compared with 2025.
Turquía (22.94km) draws heavily on roads previously used for San Rosendo but will be tackled in the opposite direction, along with additional sections of road. Nuevo Rere (10.76km) reverses the direction of the former Rere test, while Hualqui (16.69km) begins from what was previously the finish area of Pulpería.
Each stage will be run twice, meaning all six of Friday’s special stages will take place on the revised roads.
Saturday is more familiar, with the established Pelún, Lota and María Las Cruces stages forming a repeated three-stage loop, before another significant change arrives for Sunday’s finale.
Carampangue, a 26.82km test which featured in May’s Rally de Arauco, makes its WRC debut in place of Laraquete and will be driven twice. The spectacular 8.78km BioBío stage remains in place and hosts the rally-ending Wolf Power Stage.
Shakedown also moves for 2026, with the new El Manzano-Miramar test located closer to the Concepción service park than the route used in previous years.
The launch events also highlighted Rally Chile Bio Bío’s wider impact on the region. A study presented in Concepción showed a return of CLP 6.4 for every peso invested in the event, while tourism officials highlighted the international reach achieved by last year’s rally.
“Tourism and sports form a powerful duo that we believe must continue to be fostered in Chile,” said Chile’s Undersecretary of Tourism María Paz Lagos.
“The rally is more than just a sporting competition; it is an opportunity to showcase the Biobío Region to thousands of people – not only from Chile but from all over the world.
“The last edition of the rally connected with audiences in 150 countries and drew nearly 400,000 attendees, making it a vital showcase for both the region and the country.”
Rally Chile Bio Bío will also host the season finale of the FIA Junior WRC, marking the first time the category’s title will be decided outside of Europe.
Home favourite Gerardo Rosselot will be among the seven Junior WRC crews competing in identical Ford Fiesta Rally3 cars as series frontrunners Calle Carlberg, Ali Türkkan and Gil Membrado head to Chile with the championship crown still up for grabs.
