IL follows: Kalle Rovanperä drives for the world championship

Kalle Rovanperä is on his way to dominate the 2022 season. PDO

Kalle Rovanperä is close to the world championship.

There is only Sunday’s driving day left for the World Rally Championship in New Zealand. There will be four special exams.

The Power Stage, which concludes the rally and offers additional points, is run at 5:18 a.m. Finnish time.

EC 15

Ott Tänak was in a hard fight and narrowed the gap to Rovanperä by 4 seconds. Tänak set the bottom time of the special stage, while Rovanperä was second by 1.7 seconds.

The Estonian driver said that he experienced moments of tension.

– In some places I was too brave and at one point there was even a little tension, commented Tänak.

The short route was challenged by the rain that started at the end and a jump in the track, where Oliver Solberg said he had climbed the highest ever with his car.

Sébastien Ogier continued his good drive but lost to Tänak by 4.1 seconds.

– I hope today we can celebrate at least something, the French striker smiled.

Although Rovanperä fell short of Tänak, the Finn drove a good lap and continues at the top of the race.

– Quite a good clip. We’ll see how it goes, Rovanperä said.

Also Hayden Paddon convinced with his handsome drive and continues in sixth place.

EC 14

The EK of just under 9 kilometers was started in drier weather. However, there was a lot of loose gravel on the road.

Kalle Rovanperä continued ahead of Sébastien Ogier and Ott Tänak.

The first to drive Craig Breen commented that there was most loose gravel on the road during the entire race, which made driving challenging.

Also, according to Oliver Solberg, who is competing in New Zealand for the first time, there was some loose gravel on the road, although the road started to clear as the races progressed.

Rovanperä, who turned 22 yesterday, drove excellently in Sunday’s first EC. Although the driving looked cautious in a few places, Rovanperä mainly drove a perfect drive at high speed.

Rovanperä started Sunday by driving the bottom time. When the reporter asked how the race day affected the driver, Rovanperä replied that he was just looking for a suitable pace for the start of the race day.

– I’m looking for a normal and suitable pace. Let’s see what can be done in the afternoon. I wanted to start the day with a good ride, so that I would feel good, Rovanperä said.

Sébastien Ogier stayed suitably between Rovanperä and Tänak.

– Quite slippery this morning. Less traction than there has been this weekend, commented Ogier.

The 2019 world champion Tänak remained third. The reporters asked the Estonian striker if he was putting pressure on the Toyotas.

– What pressure? The only goal is to finish the rally, the Estonian acknowledged with a smile.