World Rally Championship: Rovanpera champion again

Rien ne va plus, les jeux son faits. And for the second year in a row is Kalle Rovanpera to make his own WRC world title. To the Central European Rally the Finnish son of art closed the process one race early, and with minimal effort: second place behind Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 Rally1 was enough. Kalle didn’t let his emotion betray him, he didn’t want to overdo it and try to get full spoils. With Elfyn Evans falling to the rear after Saturday’s accident, Rovanpera preferred to be an accountant, managing second place with shrewdness. In the Power Stage final Evans attempted a vain comeback snatching the best timebut it didn’t help: for the second year in a row the title goes to Finland.

THE START OF A NEW LEGEND?

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And this second title could be the beginning of a new epic of modern rallies, after those of Sébastien Loeb and of Sébastien Ogier. The young Rovanpera has talent and class and could very well match and even surpass the winning streaks of the two big transalpine players in the years to come. A triumph that Rovanpera also owes to the great efficiency of the squadron Toyota Gazoo Racing and to the great power and reliability of its Yaris Rally1. After the thunderous retirement on his home roads, Kalle had a moment of fog, but with regularity and mastery he managed to contain Evans’ run-up and beat him again this year.

FIGHT BETWEEN FORMER CHAMPIONS FOR THE BRONZE

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Only fifteen seconds and eight tenths separated them on the finishing platform Ott Tanak and Sébastien Ogierwith the Estonian taking a deserved third place with a Ford Puma Rally1 full of unknowns. A placing that confirms the Estonian’s unchanged qualities and already makes him a serious candidate for the 2024 WRC, which he will take part in at the wheel of a Hyundai. For Ogier, a “copper” that doesn’t hurt, on a day of celebration at Toyota. The Japanese team also celebrates fifth place Takamoto Katsuta, which improves from race to race by leaps and bounds. Sixth place for Teemu Suninen, with the second and final Hyundai i20 N Rally1 at the finish line. The Finn did not want to bite, with the aim of gaining some points without “wrinkling” his car as happened to Esa-Pekka Lappi. Mission successful, but at the cost of a modest performance. Even the “second lines” of M-Sport they stammer: Grégoire Munster he is seventh, demonstrating his progress at the wheel of the Ford Puma Rally1, while his performance is very disappointing Pierre-Louis Loubet who took a big risk in the last stage by modifying the rear of his Puma. Loubet ultimately ends his WRC season with the tenth placealso beaten by the Ford Fiesta Rally2 by a Adrien Fourmaux much more motivated.

CIAMIN TAKES WRC 2, GREENSMITH BACK IN THE GAME

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In the Wrc 2with Rossel out of the game already from the first stage and Mikkelsen arrived late, it was Nicolas Ciamin to take full spoils in a race dominated by Skoda Fabia RS Rally2. The Frenchman was able to take advantage of the withdrawal of Emil Lindholm in the sixteenth special for problems with the alternator on yours Hyundai i20 N Rally2managing a good advantage over Skoda’s Erik Cais and Kajetan Kajetanowicz who completed both the podium of the Wrc 2 category and that of the Wrc 2 Challenger subdivision. Only fourth place in class for English Gus Greensmithagain on Skoda, which is clearly back in the running for the division title.

KREMER WINS AND REOPENS THE WRC MASTERS CUP

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Undisputed success for Armin and Ella Kremer on Skoda Fabia RS Rally2 in Wrc Masters Cupbeating the identical car of the Austrian Johannes Keferbock. With this success Kremer mathematically remains in contention for the category title though Alexandre Villanueva is still at a clear advantage. In the Wrc 3easy win for Filip Kohn and Tom Woodburn with the Ford Fiesta, given the clear advantage accumulated over Fabio Schwarz and Martin Ravenscak both forced to resort to the Super Rally. As for the Italians, the three “surviving” crews all reached the finish line, with Matteo Fontana who confirmed himself at high levels with his Peugeot 208 Rally4: he finished twenty-ninth overall in an impeccable performance. Good too Filippo Marchinowho made his debut in a WRC event with his Skoda Fabia R5, thanks also to an excellent understanding with the co-driver Pietro Elia Ometto. Honest try finally for Paolo Strabello, more accustomed to national stages but always ready to get involved with his Peugeot 208 Rally4. Strabello finished thirty-sixth overall, just ahead of Marchino, and both have never resorted to the Super Rally.

Catwalk in Japan

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The World Rally Championship is now preparing to set sail for Japanfor the last scheduled race of the year from 16 to 19 November. For the Toyota and Kalle Rovanpera squadron, a triumphal catwalk to be honored perhaps with a victory. Titles also assigned WRC 3, Junior WRC and WRC 2 Challengerthe title will remain to be assigned WRC 2 and it’s easy to imagine a life-or-death “trick” between Mikkelsen, Rossel and Greensmith, capable of providing emotions.