Kalle Rovanperä leads the Estonian World Rally Championship after Friday’s driving day. The Finns’ strong contribution is complemented by Esapekka Lappi in third and Teemu Suninen in fifth.
The first real driving day of the World Rally Championship in Estonia offered many happy moments for Finns. Kalle Rovanperä paved the way for others throughout the day, but still gassed up no less than two bottom times for the afternoon specials. Rovanperä leads the rally by three seconds Thierry Neuville.
– Now it’s time for the macaroni box, Rovanperä stated at the end of the morning in an interview.
Urheilu’s expert confirmed the pace after day care Henri Haapamäki. Rovanperä has often hit hard times specifically after daily maintenance or to open the second day of driving. That’s what happened this time as well, when three special tests were run for the second time in the afternoon.
– When the road is plowed, he starts driving at such times that other people’s pants are cut to their ankles, Haapamäki says.
According to Haapamäki, Rovanperä is great at controlling his pace. Haapamäki says skill is Rovanperä’s greatest strength. The young world champion drives confidently enough in difficult conditions, but accelerates his pace at the right moment as if flipping a switch.
– It is by no means easy. The risks and the possibility of failure increase a lot, says Haapamäki.
Rovanperä was not the only successful Finn, because Esapekka Lappi is third only 12.2 seconds behind his compatriot. The value of Lapland’s performance is enhanced by the fact that the hybrid unit of his car did not work during practically the entire morning.
– Without this hybrid problem, Lapland would certainly be even higher. The failure of the unit affects many other factors than just the power, for example the driver’s state of mind, Haapamäki explains.
Lappi was regularly faster than the team’s Ykköskuski Neuville. Earlier this season, we have seen team regulations from Hyundai allowing Neuville to pass Lapland, even if the Finn was faster than his teammate. Haapamäki believes that we are approaching a point where Neuville is no longer preferred.
– I believe that little by little that train will turn towards Esapeka. The points situation is starting to get like this, Haapamäki says and hopes that on Saturday the Hyundai drivers will be able to race honestly.
The third Finnish winner is driving Hyundai’s last Rally1 car Teemu Suninen, who starts Saturday’s driving day in fifth place. Suninen will be behind the wheel of a Rally1 hybrid car in the World Rally Championship for the first time.
– Behind the back there are drivers who have driven several rallies with Rally1 cars. After all, it’s a really hard performance when you come into a new car cold and you can beat them, Haapamäki incenses.
He believes that Suninen will be comfortable going into another long driving day after a balanced performance. There are nine special tests ahead on Saturday. Haapamäki believes that Suninen can increase the company and the worst pressure is off his shoulders.
– If we had messed around and achieved bad results, the pressure would still be on. Tonight, together with the team, we can also find the points where there is a difference between the teammates, Haapamäki times.
1. Kalle Rovanperä Toyota 1.12.22,2 2. Thierry Neuville Hyundai + 3.0
3. Esapekka Lapland Hyundai + 12.2 4. Elfyn Evans Toyota + 14.1
5. Teemu Suninen Hyundai + 33.8
6. Pierre-Louis Loubet M-Sport + 48.8
7. Takamoto Katsuta Toyota + 1.03,6
8. Andreas Mikkelsen’s Skoda* + 4.07,4
9. Gus Greensmith Skoda* + 4.14,1
10. Sami Pajari Skoda* + 4.25,0
12. Ott Tänak M-Sport +4.47,0
Rally2 cars marked with an asterisk*.