Kalle Rovanperä had “great fun” at the Drift Master European Championship

Before this event, what experience did you have in drifting?

I've done a bit of it often in recent years. Last year I won a competition at Kokkola Venetsia in Finland. I have no plans to change sports, but I really like it and it was always the plan to try and do some international events.

What do you like about drifting?

It's all about control. You must completely master your car to succeed and thus be able to keep up with the competitor who is with you. At the same time, you have to be very fast and slide a lot. It's really fun to ride with the wheels at an impossible angle with your foot pushing the gas pedal.

Photo (Red Bull)

With a machine developed by Daigo Saito*, what were your ambitions when you arrived here?

Above all, have fun. Then, when you put the helmet on your head, you always want to get the best results. We indeed had a new car to inaugurate and on which there was no shortage of work. We have made progress, but there are many areas for improvement. It was fast and aggressive, but still difficult to ride. It wasn't easy to be precise behind the wheel.

What assessment do you draw from this weekend?

The beginning was a little complicated, because the Supra still had room for improvement. Little by little, as we worked, we managed to find settings that suited me better. I had fun. Saturday, during the individual runs, I finished 7^e out of 43 cars. On Sunday, however, I did not manage to get into the 16 qualifiers. It's a bit disappointing. We tried to get even more grip from the tire by lowering the pressure, but strangely there was even less grip. It seems that the rubbers we put on the rim were rotating around it.

Photo (Red Bull)

What is the atmosphere like during a round of this championship?

Very relaxed. The other competitors are really nice. The level is also very high. These drivers are among the best in the world.

Are there any similarities with the WRC ?

It's very different, but on the other hand, there are also things from WRC that you can use in drifting like how to react when the grip changes or the feeling the car can give you when you can. at the limit.

What can this discipline bring you in WRC?

I don't think it's negative to drive different racing cars. I always get interesting things from it.

Photo (Red Bull)

NB: Kalle Rovanperä should also participate in the 3^e round of the DMEC championship (Drift Master European Championship) which will take place on July 1 and 2 at the Drivecenter Arena in Fällfjors (200 km north of Umeå) in Sweden.

* Kalle's Supra came straight from Japan. It was built in the Fat Five Racing workshop of Daigo Saito who was a drift champion in D1GP and Formula Drift several times. He also received assistance from Toyota Gazoo Racing.

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