Autosport published its traditional TOP50 list of the year’s best motorsport athletes.
Kalle Rovanperä’s wonderful season got the praise it deserved. JANI KORPELA
Autosport has evaluated Kalle Rovanperän this year as the fourth best motor sportsman in the world.
The publication considered the bible of motor sports announced its traditional listing today.
Rovanperä, who has won the second consecutive world rally championship, receives a lot of praise in the magazine’s evaluation.
– The Toyota star’s march to a second consecutive title was in many ways more convincing than the championship he won last year as the youngest ever. Knowing that the fight for the championship will get tougher this year, Rovanperä added incredible smoothness and reasonable driving to his already amazing speed, Autosport enthuses.
Rovanperä won three races during the season, finishing fourth even at worst. The only blemish on a great year was sadly born in Jyväskylä, when the Finnish World Cup rally ended in a crash and an interruption.
– His speed and maturity brought the championship by the margin of one race. This despite the fact that eyebrows were already raised after he only finished on the podium once in the first four races of the season.
Rovanperä’s ranking fell one notch from last year. The F1 stars were wedged in front Lando Norris (third) and IndyCar series champion Alex Palou.
Number one on the list is hardly a surprise to anyone. The overwhelming winner of the Formula One world championship Max Verstappen was deservedly Autosport’s choice as the best sportsman of the year.
Autosport’s motor sportsmen of the year, 2023
TOP 10
1. Max Verstappen, F1
2. Alex Palou, IndyCar
3. Lando Norris, F1
4. Kalle Rovanperä, WRC
5. Fernando Alonso, F1
6. Lewis Hamilton, F1
7. Antonio Fuoco, WEC
8. Nick Cassidy, Formula E
9. Jake Dennis, Formula E
10. Alex Albon, F1