2023-08-04 22:21:00
Briton Elfyn Evans (Toyota) was leading Rally Finland, the 9th round of the WRC world championship, on Friday evening after a day marked by numerous retirements, including that of Kalle Rovanperä, the big favorite.
Evans was ahead of Belgian Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) by just 6.9 seconds and Japanese Takamoto Tatsuta (Toyota) by 16.4 seconds at the end of the 10th special out of the 22 in the event.
“We don’t know if we will be able to leave. When the car comes back, the mechanics will examine it and repair it. Usually they manage if the chassis is not damaged,” Rovanperä hoped after his accident which saw him put his Toyota on the roof while leading the race.
If the Finn’s chances of victory in “his” rally have now evaporated, he can still – if he manages to resume the race on Saturday – take part in the last special, the Power Stage, on Sunday, which earns additional points in the championship. to the first five.
Arriving in Finland, round 9 of the championship, Rovanperä had a lead of 55 points over Evans. More than enough to keep the lead despite his accident on Friday, a victory earning a maximum of 30 points.
But he will find himself within reach of his rivals as there will be four rallies left to contest by the end of the season after that of Finland.
Jari-Matti Latvala, the Toyota team’s race director, found himself in the unusual position of being both competitor and team manager. At 38, he decided to exceptionally take the wheel of a Toyota WRC1 for an event he won three times when he was still “only” a driver.
«Taka (Tatsuta, editor’s note) is now in a position to help Elfyn for the championship,” he noted, adding “I also need to have a little more self-confidence now!“while he occupied an unexpected 5th place in the standings on Friday evening.
Classification of the Finland rally, 9th round of the WRC world rally championship, after the 10th special on Friday:
1. Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (GBR, Toyota) 51:34.4
2. Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL, Hyundai) at 6.9
3. Takamoto Tatsuta/Aaron Johnston (JAP-IRL, Toyota) à 16.4
4. Teemu Suninen/Mikko Markkula (FIN, Hyundai) à 28.8
5. Jari-Matti Latvala/Juho Hänninen (FIN, Toyota) à 1:23.7
…
Principal abandons: Ott Tänak/Martin Jarveoja (EST, M-Sport/Ford), Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm (FIN, Hyundai), Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (FIN, Toyota), Pierre-Louis Loubet/Nicolas Gilsoul (FRA- BEL, M-Sport/Ford).
Winners of the special stages: Kalle Rovanperä (SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7), Thierry Neuville (SS8, SS9, SS10), Ott Tänak (SS1), Takamoto Tatsuta (SS2).
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