‘s new documentary chronicles Kalle Rovanperä’s dizzying journey to become the youngest world champion in rally history.
Kalle Rovanperä has become the rally world champion amazingly quickly. At the age of 22, Rovanperä has broken all possible records and returned the rally scepter after a 20-year break.
Rovanperä’s journey to becoming the youngest world champion in rally history is described in ‘s recent documentary. Hyundai’s former team manager Alain Penasse reveals how the team was looking for a talented young driver five years ago, but did not choose Rovanperä.
– We organized a selection test, which of course also included Rovanperä. Kalle was 16 at the time, but looked 14. When he drove the car and gave feedback to the engineer, he looked like he was 28 years old. The sound and the image did not match each other at all, Penasse recalls.
The crucial selection test was run in southern France on asphalt and gravel.
– In addition to timing, we also collected data on driving performance. After looking at the results from different areas, we decided to choose our driver Jari HuttunenPenasse sheds light on a decision that seems special today.
– We took a Finnish driver, but not Kalle. We knew that his age would be a problem, as some countries require an age of 18 in addition to a driver’s license. But if Kalle had excelled exceptionally in the driving tests, we would have chosen him despite his young age, states Penasse.
– Kalle must have known that the success train is moving forward and he is already on board, Penasse says.
Rovanperä’s manager Timo Jouhki admits that Hyundai’s decision was a big disappointment, but in retrospect things progressed in a favorable way.
– Skoda was a superior solution in that respect. This is how the foundation was laid for Kalle’s current success, says Jouhki.
The conquest of the rally world began at the age of 12 in Latvia
Rovanperä’s rise to the top started when he was only 12 years old in the Latvian rally series. Father Harri Rovanperä recalls how the then vice-president of the Latvian Motor Sports Association Janis Krastins suspected that Kalle’s grains would still not be enough.
– Krastins said that maybe we should wait another couple of years. But then he decided to run one race and see how it goes, Harri Rovanperä remembers.
Things progressed quickly, but Krastins still struggled when Kalle was wanted behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive car.
– Kalle then won the general competition with four-wheel drive and won the next rally as well, after which Krastins stated that you can do whatever you want, Harri Rovanperä times.
Rovanperä got an experienced map reader Risto Pietiläinen, which has played a significant role in the background of Kalle’s amazing story. Kalle Rovanperä praises Pietiläinen in the documentary.
– It was important to have such an experienced carter teach the basics. It worked really well when I was doing my own thing and Risto read the notes well. All of this had a big impact on the kind of driver I’ve become, Kalle Rovanperä praises Pietiläinen.
– With Risto, I got used to never having to stress or be nervous about anything.
Always at the wheel – Kalle Rovanperä’s road to world champion can be seen on TV2 on Saturday at 21:00 and can also be watched then at Areena.