A little fright in ES13 with this slow puncture, but that’s it. Kalle Rovanperä did not leave much to his opponents this Saturday morning to continue his rider alone at the top of the Rally of Finland. Thus, the local pilot, still on the attack, signed three of the four scratches in this first loop and exceeded the 10 seconds course in advance on his first pursuer, namely Belgian Thierry Neuville (+14 ″ 7).
The podium is always supplemented by Adrien Fourmaux. The Frenchman is now a delay of 15 ″ on the double world champion. But, the afternoon promises great battles again because the two Hyundai pilots are only separated from 3 small tenths. The northerner, who made a big time in the ES14 (2nd at 0 ″ 6 from the Finn), can therefore still go and seek second place in this rally.
In any case, on this second day, the podium begins to take shape since Takamoto Katsuta, in lack of rhythm, is now relegated to almost 11 seconds of Fourmaux. In addition, the Japanese is solidly installed in fourth row for the moment. Thus, Sébastien Ogier, now 5th at the expense of his young teammate Sami Pajari, is 10 ″ 5.
Ott Tänak, the big loser of this Finland rally
The octuple world champion has made a few scares in the morning. In particular, he narrowly avoided a road trip in ES11, in a slow turn. In any case, we did not feel very comfortable in these wet conditions and these wet and slippery forest paths.
Definitely for Ott Tänak, Finland has not succeeded in recent years. After two abandonments in 2023 and 2024, the Estonian, who had to open the road on Friday, in changing and humid conditions, went to the fault in ES7 and suffered some damage. And as if that was not enough, he received a 5 -minute penalty for hitting a commissioner at the end of this famous special.
In general, this Saturday noon, he finds himself 22nd, all categories combined, more than 6’40 from Ravanperä. His only hope, now, is to be able to score points tomorrow during the Super Sunday.
In addition, in WRC2, Roope Korhonen is still at the top of his rally in front of Jari-Matti Latvala (+7 ″ 7), which signed a new scratch in the ES14, and the Estonian Georg Linnamäe (+13 ″ 2). The Frenchman Yohan Rossel, in need of rhythm this Saturday morning, slides him in the provisional 10th row, at 1’23 from the Finn.
WRC – Finland rally
ES14 – Special classification
General classification
General classification WRC2
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