Jonne Halttunen was a relieved man when the world rally championship was secured on Sunday.
Jonne Halttunen (left) and Kalle Rovanperä celebrate the world championship again. EPA / AOP
– Damn great feelings. Feeling really relieved, Jonne Halttunen tells.
Kalle Rovanperän according to the map reader, this year’s championship did not come as easily as last year.
– This season has been much more stressful and difficult. There has been much more competition. If you look at the beginning of the season, it was really even for the first four rallies. After that, the situation started to open up a bit. Of course, in Finland we went a bit in the other direction, Haltunen remembers the Jyväskylä exit.
The Rovanperä–Haltunen duo has won only three of the 12 races this season, but the world championship was still secured even before the last race.
– We knew it was not possible to win every race. This time we tried to take as many points as possible every time. I think we both grew from the previous championship. The feeling is great. It’s hard to describe it in words, Halttunen mused.
Development
Although the championship battle was tighter this year, according to Halttunen, Rovanperä is now a better driver than a year ago. Experience begins to show in the driver’s grip.
– I don’t have to calm him down anymore, he does it himself, Halttunen says.
Rovanperä is said to be an easy colleague who wants to win every rally.
– He hates losing, Halttunen assures.
According to Karttur, the two’s seamless cooperation makes them a good team.
– The combination is quite good. We don’t need to talk much about how things are done. Kalle does his job well and I, at least so far, have taken care of my plot well. Then we will both be able to help each other with certain things. That combination works well now, and this is not the kind of drilling it could be, Halttunen reflects.
Will the party drag on?
Halttunen is now a two-time world champion. Ten years ago, he wouldn’t have believed it if someone had predicted it.
– Even five years ago I would not have been able to imagine this. We just talked to Kalle that we have now driven for four years in the WRC and two championships. After all, this has gone much better than we could have imagined.
Of course, success should also be celebrated, but Halttunen was not able to say right after the race what kind of celebrations were planned.
– Well, it hasn’t been thought about too much. Both of our parents are here. We will probably go out to eat with them and then there will also be partners and friends.
– Maybe it will drag on a bit. I don’t feel bad about it, even if it drags on a bit. We’ll see how the evening goes.