Kalle Rovanperä will receive a tough resistance from Ott Tänak in the Swedish World Rally, predicts Henri Haapamäki, an expert in Sports.
Matti Lehtisaari,
STT Sports
16: 06 • Updated 17:01
Kalle Rovanperä and Ott Tänak They are the hottest favorites in the Swedish World Rally starting on Thursday evening. The starting point for another Rovanperä career for the second victory of the Swedish World Rally in Sweden is excellent. Rovanperä, who drives to Toyota, is third on the route and has received a good number of test kilometers on the new tire manufacturer’s spike wheels.
– Kalle is expected to win. Now that we go to the Swedish snow, expectations are really high. This competition and departure are suitable for him. I believe Kale will fight for the biggest point pot of the entire rally, Sports Expert Henri Haapamäki in advance.
Rovanperä finished fourth in Monte Carlo’s World Championship opening. Tänak, who competes in Hyundi, opened his season in fifth place in Monte Carlo.
– Rovanperä against Tänak, it becomes a tough fight. Tänak already showed in Monte Carlo that the car was fine, Haapamäki estimates.
– Tänak is extremely strong, especially in such a high -speed rally. He is a good snow and ice driver anyway. Tänak is definitely tough, especially when we go with top -notch clips, Haapamäki believes.
Sami Pajari gets a great starting point
Sami Pajarin The opening of the season ended with a zero race when he drove out on the closing day. Lahti people are now expected to ride a harder ride in Sweden.
– Pajar now has an even better starting point for Kale, as he reaches ninth traffic. Now this year came new tires. They have been mocked that the first cars disappear, especially on snow, says Haapamäki.
In Sweden, it is easier for Pajarin to succeed.
– Of course, this is a more cozy rally than comparing, for example, Monte Carlo. Tight asphalt roads and icy roads for summer tires are an exotic start for the season. Now we are there, what you know best.
New tires last year slower
The tires of the new tire manufacturer in the World Rally Championship can cause surprises. This may happen in particular if you drive in snow. Haapamäki opens up how the tires differ from the tires used in the World Series last year.
– The tires are really much slower than the Pirell tires used last year. The pins are about two and a half millimeter shorter. An even greater effect is that the tire surface is really solid. The tire easily clogs from loose snow, Haapamäki describes.
How do you talk about big time differences?
-In the fell rally, the Rally1 car was four or five seconds per kilometer slower than last year’s tires. So we talk about a significant difference, but of course the tires are the same for everyone, Haapamäki explains.
The Swedish World Rally will be held February 13th-February 16th. And it is followed moment by moment on the Sports website and the app, where you will find performance tracking and all the most talking videos.