The large rally audience has had to wonder why the Finnish ace Kalle Rovanperä no longer dominates the World Series. A year ago, Rovanperä had won three of the four opening rallies, while the reigning world champion in the season that has started still lacks a race win.
Sports expert Henri Haapamäki emphasizes that the 22-year-old Finnish star has by no means driven or performed poorly, but other drivers and teams have improved from last season.
– Last year, Kalle’s blow, when he drove the pants to the ankles of the entire team, made the others prepare even better for this season. However, it was a humiliation for everyone else. Others have now wanted to show that there is momentum here too, Haapamäki states.
In addition, Rovanperä’s Toyota team was somewhat ahead of others in Rally1 cars last season.
– Toyota’s lead has decreased, if it exists at all. At least with Huyndai, the stables are on the same line. M-Sport’s Ford has also improved its handling, emphasizes Haapamäki.
Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala hinted after the World Rally in Croatia that Rovanperä is extremely fast if and when he trusts his car. If he doesn’t trust the car, you can see the lack of speed right away.
Rovanperä knows the extremes of rally racing
Haapamäki points out that Rovanperä’s strength is that the young rally freak can drive at the extreme limit of its current speed, and not exceed it. In that case, the only punishments would be pointless outings and car wrecks.
If the car doesn’t feel good after all, then it’s wise to only drive your own maximum ride – without excessive risks. Rovanperä finished second in Monte Carlo and fourth in Sweden, Mexico and Croatia.
– If we remember by Markus Grönholm old eras of the beginning of the 2000s, so he almost used an excel table to calculate MM points, which ranking makes sense wherever. You don’t have to win every rally. It is worth taking the sensible points with you. Kalle uses common sense here, which is especially desirable at this level.
– Kalle is such a child of nature that he doesn’t just aim for results. It (winning) is not everything for him, there is no obsession with success. I think Kalle approaches the matter with very soft gloves. It’s good to be able to approach (profit) matters with healthy self-confidence, Haapamäki praises.
The power relations of the teams have leveled out and the fight for the world championship is currently at a tickling level, when the five top drivers are only within eleven points in the World Series.
– Certainly Toyota’s budget and dimensions were on a different level compared to others when Rally1 racers were designed. That way they had the best preparations for last season and that’s why Toyota succeeded the best. Their car was the fastest and most reliable, reminds Haapamäki.
– Success in a rally is always a combination between driver and car, but this season this combination works as well or almost as well for others as for Toyota. If Kalle were to win every rally, then in the end, not even the interest of the Finns would be enough. The leading battle of the rally is now very hot, enthuses the expert.
Stones can cause flat tires in Portugal
According to Haapamäki, there are the same and familiar rally names among the podium places of the World Rally Championship in Portugal, which are also at the top of the World Championship points.
– Weird names are not celebrated there. In the gravel rally, certain sections are in pretty bad shape. The stones rise to the surface and hard ruts form on the road. New racers can take a lot of knocks, but flat tires and possible support arm problems can come to the fore.
In Portugal, the conditions are hot, dusty, rocky and bumpy.
– Especially when coming down mountain slopes and braking, if the stones rise there, suddenly there will be tire work ahead, reflects Haapamäki.
In plowing, you start first on the gravel roads Elfyn Evans. Rovanperä starts fourth on Friday’s rally stages.
– This time, Kalle has a slight advantage from the starting position, and I believe that the team has done their work to ensure that his car is in good condition on Friday, hints the expert.
Rovanperä, who is defending his competition victory in Portugal, is the biggest favorite to win the World Rally Championship starting Friday morning, which will have a total of 19 special tests and 320 kilometers of racing.
Starting at 11:01 a.m. on Thursday, Baltari’s 4.61-kilometer test special stage will be gassed. The winner will be announced on Sunday around 3 pm.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARD (4/13 COMPETITIONS)
DRIVERS
1. Sebastien Ogier FRA Toyota 69
2. Elfyn Evans GBR Toyota 69
3. Kalle Rovanperä FIN Toyota 68
4. Ott Tänak EST Ford 65
5. Thierry Neuville BEL Hyundai 58
6. Esapekka Lappi FIN Hyundai 31
7. Craig Breen IRL Hyundai 19
8. Takamoto Katsuta JPN Toyota 18
9. Dani Sordo ESP Hyundai 17
10. Pierre-Louis Loubet FRA Ford 14
STALLS
1. Toyota 161
2. Hyundai 132
3. M-Sport Ford 108
Fri 12.5.
EK 1 12.03 km at 11:05
EK 2 19.33 km at 12:05
EK 3 18.72 km at 13:05
EK 4 12.03 km at 15:35
EK 5 19.33 km at 16:35
EK 6 18.72 km at 17:35
EK 7 18.15 km at 19:05
EK 8 2.94 km at 21:05
Sat 13.5.
EK 9 26.61 km at 09:35
EK10 37.24 km at 11:05
EK11 8.81 km at 12:35
EK12 26.61 km at 17:05
EK13 37.24 km at 18:35
EK14 8.81 km at 20:05
EK15 3.36 km at 21:05
Sun 14.5.
EK16 11.05 km at 09:05
EK17 11.18 km at 10:35
EK18 22.01 km at 11:35
EK19 11.18 km at 2:15 p.m