Kalle Rovanpera once again proved his mettle in the World Rally Championship by clinching a commanding victory at Rally Latvia as Elfyn Evans lost ground.
Kalle Rovanpera clinched a dominant victory at Rally Latvia to mark his third triumph of the season, solidifying his status as the championship leader ahead of Sebastien Ogier and Ott Tanak.
Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans suffered a setback, dropping to third place in the overall standings after a challenging rally.
The final day of Rally Latvia unfolded with intense competition among the drivers, particularly during the last four stages, which proved pivotal for the championship standings.
From the outset, Rovanpera, driving for Toyota alongside co-driver Jonne Halttunen, demonstrated his intent to dominate. He started the final day with a commanding lead of 42.5 seconds over teammate Sebastien Ogier.
The Finn’s strategy involved maintaining his pace while managing tire wear on the challenging gravel stages. His approach paid off as he continued to set competitive times, ultimately finishing the rally with a total time of 2:31:47.6.
Rovanpera’s performance throughout the rally was impressive, as he won multiple stages, including the Power Stage, which awarded him additional championship points. His ability to adapt to the changing conditions and make effective tire choices allowed him to extend his lead over Ogier, who finished second with a time of 2:32:26.8, 39.2 seconds behind his teammate.
Eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier demonstrated his experience and skill by pushing hard in the final stages. He managed to chip away at Rovanpera’s lead, but ultimately fell short. However, his consistent performance throughout the rally allowed him to secure valuable points, keeping him in contention for the championship
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak had an eventful day as he fought for a podium finish. After starting the final stages in fourth place, he faced challenges but ultimately managed to claim third place with a total time of 2:32:52.1.
Tanak’s determination was evident as he fought hard, overcoming obstacles such as a minor incident with a promotional arch that briefly affected his progress. Nevertheless, he capitalized on Martiņs Sesks’ misfortune to secure his podium spot.
Local hero and a rookie driver Martiņs Sesks enjoyed a remarkable run at Rally Latvia that saw him rank among the top 3 drivers. However, his hopes for a podium finish were dashed during the final stages when he encountered a mechanical issue with his Ford Puma.
Sesks entered the final day after securing two stage wins earlier in the rally, but the mechanical failure pushed him down to seventh overall with a final time of 2:45:32.4. Despite the setback, his WRC debut earned him respect and admiration from fans and competitors alike.
Meanwhile, M-Sport Ford’S Adrien Fourmaux finished fourth overall with a time of 2:33:18.6. His consistent driving throughout the rally allowed him to secure a solid finish, despite facing some engine issues in the final stages.
Elfyn Evans finished fifth overall with a time of 2:33:30.3 despite struggling with pace earlier in the rally, but managed to recover some points in the final stages, including points in the Power Stage to finish ahead of Takamoto Katsuta who finished sixth place with a time of 2:34:54.6.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville finished eighth overall, after struggling with pace and time loss from opening the road on Friday. His final time was 2:34:46.0, allowing him to salvage some points but not enough to maintain a significant lead in the championship standings.
The top ten was rounded out by Gregoire Munster in ninth place and Esapekka Lappi in tenth. Munster finished with a time of 5:23.1 behind Rovanpera, while Lappi faced mechanical issues that hampered his run, finishing with a time of 5:12.4 behind.
Following Rally Latvia, the WRC standings have shifted significantly. Thierry Neuville leads the championship with 145 points, closely followed by Ott Tanak with 137 points. Elfyn Evans now sits in third place with 132 points, while Sébastien Ogier trails in fourth with 117 points.
Rovanpera’s victory has propelled him to sixth place with 86 points, highlighting the competitive nature of the season as drivers prepare for the next challenge at Rally Finland.
