1. Kalle Rovanpera at his very best is Sebastien Loeb-like
Kalle Rovanpera racked up his 10th World Rally Championship victory of his already record-breaking career but last weekend’s runaway performance was perhaps his best yet.
The reigning world champion’s slow start to his title defence this year raised questions that were answered by his dominant victory in Portugal, but his total domination in Estonia drew comparison with the WRC's most successful driver, nine-time world champion Sebastien Loeb.
Rovanpera claimed the rally lead on Friday despite sweeping the fast gravel roads. Once in front there was no stopping the Finn’s charge on his favourite rally on the calendar. He revealed that his relentless speed was down to unwavering confidence in himself and his machinery that was reflected in the stage times.
Rovanpera even had the mental capacity to quote legendary Finnish rally driver Markku Alen’s famous “If I want to win the stage I win the stage” phrase during a stage-end interview.
Ultimately he won 15 out of 21 stages which included a memorising Loeb-like streak of 13 consecutive fastest times, as he went unbeaten throughout Saturday and Sunday. Rovanpera clinched victory by 52.7s in style by claiming his 15th Power Stage win from 55 attempts. His Power Stage success equates to a 27.3% strike rate that is only bettered by eight-time world champion Sebastien Ogier.
Toyota boss Jari-Matti Latvala likened Rovanpera’s display to Loeb in his pomp. The Frenchman rattled off 13 stages wins in a row in Germany 2008 and won all 12 stages on his way to victory at the 2005 Tour De Corse.
Source: Autosport