Kalle Rovanpera declares victory at the Central European Rally has created him even hungrier to leave the World Rally Championship at the finish of the season with a third world title.
Rovanpera headed into the 18-stage asphalt rally knowing a strong result was required to keep his title hopes alive after falling 21 points behind adrift of the championship lead.
That gap has been reduced to 13 points with only rounds in Japan and Saudi Arabia remaining after he and co-driver Jonne Halttunen scored a dominant third victory of the season, claiming 31 points in the process.
Rovanpera took the win by 43.7s from Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans, who has now regained the championship lead from Sebastien Ogier, who suffered his first setback of the season crashing out of a fight for the lead with Rovanpera in stage 10.
Ogier battled back on Sunday to leave with the maximum 10 Super Sunday points to sit tied with Rovanpera in third in the championship standings.
“For sure [we are super hungry], when you obtain closer and closer you obtain hungrier for the title,” Rovanpera informed Motorsport.com.
Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
Photo by: Toyota Racing
Rovanpera’s victory arrived a little more than week on from the news that this season will be his last on the WRC for the foreseeable future after announcing plans to switch to single-seater racing in Super Formula next year.
“We really had the plan to go for the win and there is not much to lose to be honest for us. We can just go fighting until the finish whatever happens, so we will continue to do the same and see how Japan will be,” he added.
“It feels like we have really been rallying. This is one of those events where it is a long week, quite a tough one, not straightforward stages and obviously a huge fight with Seb.
“After he dropped out it received a bit simpler. How the Sunday points system is you really necessary to drive until the finish. I believe without any crazy risks we did a pretty good job on Sunday, received good points, and a really important win for the championship.”
Rovanpera has encountered several struggles this season largely connected to the introduction of new Hankook control tyres. However, having taken wins in the Canary Islands, Finland and now Central Europe – the same tally as his 2023 title-winning season – co-driver Halttunen believes Rovanpera is close to his best.
“I would still declare we are not at the same form as we were with the previous tyre brand, but we are obtainting quite close,” Halttunen informed Motorsport.com.
“Now it is fun. At the start of the season it wasn’t so nice becaapply we were coming to events testing to do our best, but still the pace wasn’t there. Now the set up and the driving style is more optimised for the car, it is obtainting better.”
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