Kalle Rovanperä is firmly involved in the victory struggle of the Catalan World Rally Championship after the opening day.
Kalle Rovanperä has been at a good pace in Catalonia. EPA/AOP
Toyota driver Rovanperä set four bottom times in Friday’s eight special tests and arrived at the evening service in second place. Only an eight-time world champion is ahead of this year’s world champion Sebastien Ogierwho has a lead of 4.8 seconds over his Finnish teammate.
– In the afternoon run, we were a little more consistent than in the morning. All in all, the day was good, if we take away the long stretch in the morning where we lost a little time. But otherwise everything is fine, Rovanperä summed up.
Rovanperä and the map reader Jonne Halttunen finished their work on Friday with smiles on their faces. In the last corner of the last special stage, Toyota slipped a little wide, but the pair didn’t stress about the situation any more. Instead, there was laughter in the cockpit.
– We went a little too far in the operation, which is why there was quite a lot of slippage. We laughed about it, and luckily nothing happened, Rovanperä mused.
Rovanperä has won six World Cup races this season and now he is looking for his first career victory in the Catalan asphalt race. The opponent is perhaps the worst possible.
– “Seb” is difficult to catch. He has driven a lot more than I have. Everyone knows Saturday’s clips, so the situation is not easy. It all depends on who finds the best driving feeling and takes the most risks, the Finnish star estimates.
On Friday, choosing tires was a headache for the drivers, especially in the morning, when the roads were still a little damp. According to the latest forecasts, dry weather is expected for Saturday.
– I hope the situation will be a little easier than today. Now it was a little stressful before the clips, when choosing tires. Or it wasn’t stressful for me, but maybe for some others, Rovanperä elaborated.
Ogier and Rovanperä were able to make a little difference to Hyundai to Thierry Neuville and To Ott Tänak at the end of Friday.
However, the Hyundai drivers are within striking distance of Ogier and Rovanperä, who, in addition to the double victory, will try to bring the Manufacturers’ World Championship title to Toyota already this weekend.
– The Hyundais are so close behind that neither of us can slack off. Everyone is definitely driving with the gas at the bottom.
The Catalunya World Cup Rally continues on Saturday, when the program includes seven special stages.