Kalle Rovanpera says shedding a possible maiden World Rally Championship victory on house soil on the penultimate stage is “fairly an unreal feeling” after a close to good Rally Finland.
The 2-time world champion was on the right track to change into the primary Finn to win the occasion since 2015, having gained 11 phases that helped the Toyota driver into 45.8s lead over team-mate Sebastien Ogier heading into stage 19.
Nevertheless, Rovanpera was unable to keep away from a rock within the street that pitched his GR Yaris right into a roll that ended his rally on the spot, handing the victory to Ogier.
It was the second Rally Finland in a row the place Rovanpera has rolled out of a lead at his house occasion. The Finn stated there was “no likelihood” to keep away from the rock.
“Principally, the final correct nook of the stage, fairly high-speed, a fourth-gear nook, and if you go into the driving line a bit in a while, the center of the nook, there was some rocks and there was no likelihood to keep away from it in any means,” Rovanpera advised Motorsport.com.
“We simply took the hit and that was actually large, then we noticed the rock later and it as a extremely large one.
“There was no rock for the fellows in entrance of us, I solely noticed the onboard and there was nothing.”
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Picture by: Toyota Racing
After shedding out on a possible victory after dominating the rally, Rovanpera, added: “It’s a fairly unbelievable feeling if you do the entire weekend completely, the group and all people has carried out an important job and we have been so quick and had no moments or points, on a regular basis we have been in management.
“Then one thing like this occurs and you can’t keep away from it your self, it’s fairly an unreal feeling.”
Rovanpera’s team-mate Elfyn Evans, who crashed out on the primary nook of the identical stage moments earlier than the incident admitted it was “tremendous unfortunate”.
“I actually really feel for him there may be nothing you are able to do in that state of affairs,” Evans advised Motorsport.com.
“We have seen so many guys have accidents like this prior to now Seb [Ogier] has had one in testing, [Hayden] Paddon had one right here one yr and couldn’t begin the rally.
“It is most likely the one of many largest dangers, for example in Rally Finland, is like having a free stone on high of a rut like that. At excessive velocity the automobile is low and also you’re only a passenger.”
