Kalle Rovanperä showed his skills again in the World Rally Championship in Greece.
Kalle Rovanperä is a specialist in Power Stages. Vesa Pöppönen / All Over Press
Kalle Rovanperä won the Greek World Rally Championship overwhelmingly. The Finn crowned the race by winning the Power Stage, which gave him five additional points for the World Series.
The power bet was once again a deafening demonstration of the Finn’s know-how. The driver, who had been driving at a fast pace all Sunday, pressed the pin on the board in the last section and charged the 2.5-second bottoms without a proper feeling. The pull was so strong that the man was shaking at the finish line.
– I let it burn, but that’s what we always do, Rovanperä laughed about his WRC Power performance in an interview.
Last season, Rovanperä won no fewer than 7/13 Power Stage special tests. This season the reading is 5/9. In Finland, he did not make it to Power due to the elimination.
Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala Stuck in Greece Kaj Lindström not surprised by the star driver’s shocking Power move.
– When he’s in that mood, he lets go – and he did, Lindström laughed in an interview with WRC.
The man was otherwise satisfied with his team’s performance in Greece.
– Double win from rally and double win from Power. Great work from both Kalle and From Elfyn Evans. I am very, very happy, Lindström mused.
It was Rovanperä’s third race win of the season and 11th career victory in the World Rally Championship. With his 11 wins, the youngster rose to the level of the legendary Timo Salonen with.
Rovanperä already has a whopping 72 stage wins this season. Sébastien Ogier (32 EC wins) and third Thierry Neuville (28 EC wins).
Comeback
Rovanpera tasted victory after Jyväskylä’s exit.
– Of course, this is a big relief after the difficult rally in Finland. We needed comeback, Rovanperä tasted it.
The leader of the World Rally Championship started on the track in first place to plow the way for the others, but despite that he also finished in first place.
– It was a nice job. Smart driving and a good push to the end. Big thanks to the stable. The car is super strong, fast and everything, Rovanperä praised.
There are three races left in the World Rally Championship. The circus continues in Chile on September 28.
Rovanperä leads the Drivers’ World Championship with a difference of 33 points before the final climax. The second is team mate Evans.