Rovanpera Leads Tight WRC Rally Finland Battle
In the exhilarating opening stages of Rally Finland, Kalle Rovanpera showcased a resurgence in his gravel performance, seizing the lead in a fiercely contested battle at the top of the World Rally Championship field. This early dominance signals a shift for the two-time world champion, who has previously faced challenges on this particular terrain, proving his Toyota GR Yaris package's enhanced speed and his aggressive driving style.
Rovanpera's impressive drive was highlighted by his fastest times in Stage 3, the 15.78km Saarikas 1, and Stage 4, the 14.47km Myhinpaa 1, which collectively allowed him to establish a 4.4-second buffer over Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux after the initial four morning stages. Although he noted feeling less than perfect inside the car, Rovanpera admitted to pushing to the absolute limit, taking calculated risks to maintain his leading position. He attributed his improved pace to diligent work and testing with his team, emphasizing their collective effort in overcoming past gravel performance issues.
Following closely behind Rovanpera, Adrien Fourmaux displayed remarkable adaptability to Finland's demanding, high-speed gravel routes. He quickly ascended from sixth to second place during Stage 3, trailing Rovanpera's leading time by a mere 1.6 seconds. Fourmaux acknowledged Rovanpera's aggressive approach, stating that while he maintained a slightly more conservative strategy, a small margin of extra risk-taking could bring him even closer to the leader. His performance underscores the tight competition and strategic nuances at play in the rally.
Further enhancing Toyota's strong showing, Sami Pajari delivered an outstanding morning performance, securing third place, just 4.5 seconds behind the leader. This marked a significant improvement for the Rally1 rookie, who has dedicated much of the season to understanding the GR Yaris. Pajari's commitment to pushing harder at this event, where he previously achieved a fourth-place finish in his Rally1 debut, was evident through his stage wins in Stage 2 and Stage 5, notable achievements marking only his second and third stage victories in the WRC's premier category. He described his approach as brave but not reckless, carefully balancing aggression with control.
Meanwhile, Takamoto Katsuta, another Toyota driver, briefly shared the rally lead after Stage 2, narrowly missing the fastest time by a tenth of a second. He concluded the morning service in fourth, just 4.8 seconds adrift of Rovanpera. Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, despite expressing a preference for less high-speed stages, remained competitive, finishing fifth, only a tenth of a second behind Katsuta. Neuville pointed out that making a difference on such fast stages necessitates taking considerable risks, which he found challenging but manageable.
The morning concluded with Elfyn Evans, also from Toyota, in sixth place, 9.3 seconds behind Rovanpera. His teammate Sebastien Ogier encountered a setback in Stage 3, losing 6.4 seconds. Ogier reflected on the extreme speed of certain sections, calling them "boring fast" due to the lack of challenging corners. He acknowledged their insufficient commitment in one stage cost them valuable time but remained optimistic about the afternoon's potential to improve their road positions for the following day, highlighting the narrow margins defining the top contenders.
The early phases of Rally Finland set the stage for an intense competition, with Kalle Rovanpera showcasing impressive pace and strategic driving to secure an initial lead. The close times among the frontrunners, including Fourmaux's adaptable performance and Pajari's breakout stage victories, underscore the high stakes and thrilling nature of the event. As the rally progresses, drivers will undoubtedly continue to push their limits on the challenging Finnish gravel, promising further shifts in the competitive landscape.