Kalle Rovanpera’s victory at the Central European Rally has ignited an even greater desire in the Finnish driver to secure his third World Rally Championship (WRC) title before the season wraps up. The outcome of this race not only bolstered his hopes in the championship chase but also significantly reduced the gap between him and the current leader.
Rovanperä faced a true test over these 18 stages of the competition, needing a powerful performance to keep his championship dreams alive, having initially trailed by 21 points at the start of the season. Now, his deficit has shrunk to just 13 points, with two more races in Japan and Saudi Arabia still ahead. His strong synergy with co-driver Jonne Halttunen helped him secure his third victory of the year, earning a solid 31 points.
In this match, Rovanpera triumphed over his teammate Elfyn Evans by a staggering 43.7 seconds, allowing Evans to reclaim the top position in the championship standings. Meanwhile, Sebastien Ogier faced his first setback after losing to Rovanpera in the battle during Stage 10.
In the Sunday competition, Ogier reclaimed the top spot in points, but he and Rovanpera are tied for the championship standings, both sharing third place. Rovanpera’s victory also hints at his determination to transition to single-seater racing next year, marking this as his final season in WRC.
He expressed after the race that he felt excited about the challenge of this match, especially in the competition with Seb, which made him truly feel the essence of racing.
Rovanperä has faced numerous challenges this season, particularly with the new Hankook control tires impacting his performance. However, victories in the Canary Islands, Finland, and Central Europe have brought him back to near peak form.
Halttunen praised: The competition has become much more exciting now. The pressure at the beginning of the season left us feeling pretty down, and even though we tried our best, we just couldn’t keep up the pace. Now, with optimized car setups and driving styles, things are definitely looking better.
