18-year rally promise Tuukka Kauppinen leads a sensationally driven mountain rally in Rovaniemi before Esapekka Lapland and Kalle Rovanperä after Friday’s opening day.
Rautio Motorsport’s Kuopus and Fresh SM3 Class Finnish Champion Tuukka Kauppinen18, moved to the Toyota Yaris Rally2 car this season to the SM1 class. Kauppinen’s map reader became Sebastian Virtanen.
Kauppinen, who has previously tuned in second place in the Kuopio Championship Rally Championship, was the number one name on Friday on Friday.
A young man got a night break from a surprising lead after defeating Friday in Skoda Esapekka Lapland 2.8 seconds and toyotan Kalle Rovanperä 25.6 seconds.
In addition, Kauppinen drove a little sick.
– Good atmosphere when the pace has been found. That way a pure day, no big mistakes. It’s good that the driving rhythm was found after maintenance. The last two stretches started to be difficult when the pain was a bit more difficult.
– I hope I have good dreams so I can drive again on Saturday. Tomorrow you have to drive all day hard, probably a tough battle (winning), Kauppinen talked to Sports.
The viewer caused the Rovanperä outing, slow new tires
The biggest topic of the day was when Kalle Rovanperä At the opening EK, he had to dodge the viewer and his car drifted out. The double rally world champion lost more than seven minutes.
He was up to the EK4 in the overall race, 36th, 7.38.6, after the merchant that led until the Tunturiralli jury gave Rovanperä a time credit due to the viewer’s disregard.
Racing director with the opening pimple to Rovanperä with a computational time of 12.6 seconds Esapekka Lapland Bottom time. As a result, Rovanperä suddenly bounced on the scoreboard from 36 third to third – 24.2 seconds before the last of Friday’s last quick sky.
– The second loop was already better and we were able to drive without problems. There was good test data, said Rovanperä.
– The new tire is slow. If there is a loose snow on the road, then Rally2 cars will get quite brutally to the muzzle. When you are the first car, there is always some bumpy on the road. If the road is quite clean, then it’s okay, not otherwise, says Rovanperä.
Rovanperä gives a handicap on the fell rally as he drives Hankook on new tires with shorter spikes compared to others. The World Rally is driven by shorter studs than in the SM Rally.
When the Rovanperä is on the move the first car, the grooves of the tire are filled with loose snow, which in turn causes slippery. At least here is why Rovanperä lost to the Rally2 cars in the Arctic Circle.
at 08.43 EK7 Siikämämä (26.15 km)
at 09.46 EK8 Aittajärvi 2 (22.50 km)
at 10.49 EK9 Ounasvaara (1.15 km)*
at 1:47 pm Ek10 Sarrijärvi 1 (32.50 km)
at 3:50 pm Ek11 Perävaara (7.33 km)
at 4:23 pm EK12 Kemijärvi (2.27 km)
at 5:56 pm EK13 Sarrijärvi 2 (32.50 km)
at 8:01 pm Paint / Lord Square
Haapamäki: Pretty screens
Expert Henri Haapamäki admired Tuukka Kauppinen’s opening day.
– He organizes quite a bit of sensation at the moment and shows his coldness. Everyone knows that he has long been an exceptional talent, which has driven Finnish championships in smaller classes and was second in the Kuopio Championship. Really good excerpts in the SM1 class, but now the giant bag is coming.
Haapamäki points out that Esapekka Lappik, who finished sixth in the World Championships in 2023, has said that he wants to be a measure of the future promises of the SM series.
– Tuukka Kauppinen has received that meter and has crossed it today in more special stages. And are still behind the WRC2 Series Roope Korhonen and Lauri Joona. Pretty screens already at this stage, the expert praised.
Esapekka Lappi was a mother after the opening day of the mountain rally when asked about Kauppinen’s going.
– Really well drive. Definitely the star of this race. First of all, with that experience, he hasn’t driven much by Rally2.
– They also drove on the same tires, of course on a different brand of bike. It is fine, all honor to him, Lapland, who was saddened by his own tire choices and too high studs, praised.
However, Lapland swore that he was going to put his best in the game on Saturday-a free victory for 18-year-old Kauppinen will not come off.