Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä, 21, defied the probabilities and rose to a spectacular victory in the World Rally Championship in Croatia on Sunday. The Finn leads the World Rally Championship after three races, but Harri’s father’s legs are still firmly on the ground.
Harri Rovanperä spent the weekend in the garage and followed his son closely Kallen an incredible rise to victory in the Croatian World Rally Championship. The Toyota driver drove a wild base time with a Power Stage that ended the race, to which Hyundain Ott Tänak could not answer.
– All you can say is that great thing to do. It says that the boy’s pressure resistance is really good, Harri Rovanperä rejoices over the phone.
Kalle Rovanperä had dominated the race since Friday, but his management was the last in the previous special stage to choose the wrong tire in the varying conditions in Croatia.
Many, both Kalle Rovanperä himself and Toyota’s team manager Jari-Matti Latvala thought before the final special stage that the Finn could no longer win. Harri Rovanperä, who once competed in the World Rally Championship, could expect a tough result for his son from the culmination of the race.
– Power Stage was exactly what I expected. After all, it doesn’t know how much dirt, mud and poop there is on the road. It is difficult to monitor and know from the home sofa. But yes, I knew that the previous piece came in such a pot that now there is a hard draw from the boy, Rovanperä says.
Big biceps for others
Harri Rovanperä hopes that Kalle’s son will have time to ride in Finland this week. The father and son only had time to exchange a few words after winning Sunday night.
– I hope that the countries in the first half of the week will be seen if Kalle comes to visit Finland. He didn’t know yet if he would come yesterday. The boys do their own thing on the race weekend, and I won’t interfere with them, Rovanperä says.
The victory was the second in a row for a Finn, and the first in his career on asphalt. According to Harri Rovanperä, the victory was a hard shot to others.
– Absolutely was, there are no two questions about it. The first asphalt rally has now been won, but difficult gravel races are coming. Everything looks good at the moment, of course.
Kalle Rovanperä, 21, leads the World Championships after three races, but Harri’s father is not ahead yet.
– However, the long season is just beginning, it must be remembered. I think it’s worth looking at where to go in October, Harri Rovanperä reminds us.