Kalle Rovanperä’s championship hunt is off to a great start

EC 3

Friday’s driving day of the Central European Rally started in very wet and slippery conditions.

Leading the World Series Kalle Rovanperä crashed into the 13.8-kilometer-long stretch of asphalt as the first car. It was a good thing, because the cuts in the corners threw mud on the road to the chagrin of those driving behind.

The road became more slippery from car to car, so Rovanperä benefited significantly from his starting point. The result is stilt soles.

However, even a Finn was not allowed to drive on a completely clean track.

– Hard. The conditions are much more difficult than I assumed. The front car groups have raised dirt in my path as well. It was really dirty, Rovanperä said at the finish line.

Rovanperä’s World Cup threat, team mate Elfyn Evans, was 3.4 seconds behind his teammate. The Finnish striker is ahead of Evans in the overall standings. This result would secure the championship already this weekend.

The one who led the rally after Thursday Thierry Neuville suffered from a fogged windshield. The field of vision returned to normal during the clip. He also fell behind the Finn. The difference is only 1.4 seconds in favor of the Belgian.

Sebastien Ogier lost to Rovanpera by more than 40 seconds. The Frenchman suffered a flat tire, dropping to the last of the Rally1 cars.

– Unbelievable. Fortunately, Michelin is back, Ogier said, revealing perhaps the WRC’s future tire supplier.

Esapekka Lappi completed a great Finnish morning by driving the second fastest time in the section. Lapland jumped up four places in the results. Yesterday’s ten-second time penalty is sad, without it Lappi would fight for victory.

EK was dramatic in the WRC2 class. Yohan Rossel ruined his championship streak by getting knocked out. On the other hand, at least one driver suffered a flat tire.

Six ECs will be run on Friday. The next one starts at 11:42 Finnish time.