Kalle Rovanpera says finally achieving a Rally Finland victory is both an amazing feeling and a relief after ending an eight-year wait for a Finnish winner at the World Rally Championship event.
Two-time world champions Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen bounced back after struggling in recent gravel events to claim a perfect 35-point victory on home soil, heading a historic Toyota 1-2-3-4-5 in the process.
Conquering Finland had proved to be one of the missing pieces in Rovanpera’s glittering career. In 2022, he finished second behind Hyundai’s Ott Tanak while in 2023 and 2024 he crashed out of the lead. Last year, Rovanpera was denied glory on the penultimate stage when he hit a rock that had been dragged onto the road.
However, the 24-year-old banished those memories by delivering a fine drive to defeat team-mate and friend Takamoto Katsuta by 39.2s, despite not feeling 100% comfortable behind the wheel. The win was the fastest in WRC history as Rovanpera clocked an average speed of 129.9km/h (80.7mph).
“I have always said I didn’t think it was super special, but it feels super good now," said Rovanpera.
“With the support from all the Finnish people during the weekend, it already feels we need to do it for them, and also because the last few years we have been close. To finally do it now, it feels super relieving and nice.
“At least the minimum of what I want to achieve in WRC [is done] as you can always do more. Of course this is one off the list. For both of us, me and Jonne, we are from Jyvaskyla [where the rally is based], so it is quite special.”
The victory has arrived after a difficult season for Rovanpera, who has struggled to adapt his driving style to the new tyres supplied by Hankook. The Finn, at times, has been at a loss for a solution to his struggles, with his only win this year prior to Finland arriving on asphalt when he dominated the field in the Canary Islands in April.
WRC Rally Finland - Day 4
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rally Finland - Day 4, in photos
Rovanpera believes hard work conducted in his test before the rally helped him find a set up and driving style that is now working.
“It is a big feeling [to bounce back on gravel] obviously. We have done a lot of work for it and the team, and everybody can be proud of it,” he added.
“I knew if we could get everything going well we could be fast and, luckily, we did this weekend and it was important.
“I think we at least have some idea now how we can be fast.”
Rovanpera’s victory lifted the Toyota driver to second in the championship, three points behind team-mate Elfyn Evans with five rounds of the season remaining.
