Kalle Rovanpera Maintains Narrow Lead in Rally Finland Amid Challenging Conditions
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanpera has managed to secure a slim lead at the end of Friday’s stages in Rally Finland, despite facing difficult and changing conditions. The two-time World Rally Championship (WRC) champion showed resilience as he navigated through unpredictable weather, ultimately finishing the day with a 4.9-second advantage over Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville.
Rovanpera’s performance was marked by moments of brilliance, particularly on stage 2 (Saarikas, 1.15.78 km) and stage 4 (Myhinpää, 14.47 km), where he recorded the fastest times. These achievements were made under mostly dry conditions in the morning loop, with the top five drivers closely grouped, separated by just 4.9 seconds.
As the afternoon progressed, intermittent rain showers added another layer of complexity to the race. Rovanpera, known for his skill in such conditions, seized the opportunity to win stage seven, although he admitted the run was “scary” and that he felt “all over the place.” He then extended his lead further after sharing the fastest time on stage eight with Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux.
Despite dropping 1.9 seconds across the final two stages of the day, Rovanpera maintained his position at the top of the leaderboard. His performance was described as “not easy by any means,” with Rovanpera stating, “I’m just cooking quite hard.”
Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville had a strong day, particularly in the afternoon when the driving conditions became more technical than purely speed-focused. Neuville noted that this was one of his stronger days in Finland, even though he found the high-speed stages too fast in the dry. He acknowledged Rovanpera’s speed but emphasized that the gap between them was not significant.
Adrien Fourmaux, Neuville’s teammate at Hyundai, was locked in a tight battle throughout the day. Initially ahead of Neuville in the dry conditions, Fourmaux found himself struggling in the wet, where grip levels fluctuated constantly. By the end of Friday, he dropped to third, 7.7 seconds behind Rovanpera.
Fourmaux also faced competition from Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, who claimed his 50th career WRC stage win in stage six. This move elevated Katsuta to second place, 3.3 seconds behind Rovanpera. However, a significant sliding moment in the next test cost him 2.4 seconds, leaving him in fourth place, 0.4 seconds behind Fourmaux and 8.1 seconds off the lead.
Sami Pajari, another Toyota driver, delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, securing two stage wins in the morning. The Finn remained in contention, finishing the day 15.7 seconds behind Rovanpera.
Sebastien Ogier, the eight-time world champion, had a “decent” day, finishing seventh. He was affected by some of the worst wet conditions, finishing 8.4 seconds ahead of his Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans, who struggled with the weather.
The Rally1 field saw several notable performances. Martins Sesks, Josh McErlean, and championship leader Ott Tanak were among those competing. Tanak, already at a disadvantage due to starting early, faced a challenging situation when his car hit a tree during stage seven. Despite the damage to the cooling system, he managed to return to service, albeit 1 minute and 7.2 seconds behind the leaders.
In the WRC2 category, Oliver Solberg faced a tough return to the class after winning in a Rally1 car in Estonia. Adjusting to the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 proved difficult, resulting in a missed junction that cost him 10 seconds. His day worsened further when his car hit a rock, forcing him into retirement.
Finland’s Roope Korhonen ended the day leading the WRC2 class, 3.8 seconds ahead of Robert Virves. Jari-Matti Latvala, a WRC veteran and Toyota team principal, initially held the lead before the rain disrupted his performance, dropping him to fourth in the class.
Overall, Friday’s stages in Rally Finland showcased intense competition, with drivers navigating through unpredictable conditions and close battles for positions. Rovanpera’s ability to maintain his lead highlights his adaptability and determination in one of the most challenging rallies of the season.
