Kalle Rovanperä, youngest WRC champion in history: “We had an incredible season! »

Today is perhaps the beginning of a new era in WRC : that of Kalle Rovanperä. After hegemony Loeb then the series Ogier, the Finn has all the cards in hand to dominate the rally mondial dans les prochaines années. Le pilote Toyota was crowned world champion at the age of 22 at the end of the New Zealand Rally, which he won. “It’s just a huge relief! We had an incredible season, and finally here we are, rejoiced a much less icy Kalle Rovanperä than usual. We had to wait [the title] a little after several complicated rallies. I would like to thank the team, they have built a rocket this season, a reliable and fast car. Even after these difficult rallies, they always believed in us by giving us their support. Many thanks to everyone in Finland and Japan. »

Your 2022 World Rally Champions! 🏆🍾🙌#ToyotaGAZOORacing #GRYaris #WRC #RallyNZ (I.e. pic.twitter.com/OANJ1szbNw

- TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) October 2, 2022

Relieved and happy, the Rovanperä – Halttunen duo wrote a new page in WRC history with this first title. The Finnish co-driver could hardly believe it at the finish of the rally. “ It's hard to say how I feel, it's a dream come true! It's very nice. I have been working with Kalle since 2017, we have progressed so much, and we are at a very good level today” said Jonne Halttunen on the podium.

Rovanperä, first Finnish champion in 20 years! 

Thanks to this first WRC title, Kalle Rovanperä has also become a hero in Finland, since he has just ended a 20-year drought without a crown for the Nordic country! The last Finnish champion dates back to Marcus Grönholm, in 2002 with Peugeot . Harri Rovanperä, who experienced Grönholm's last WRC title from the inside after having raced for Peugeot the same year, did not fail to congratulate his son at the finish. “I knew for several years that it was going to happen, but not this soon! »

A national pride shared by Jari-Matti Latvala, director of the Toyota team: “There are many emotions, I’m on the verge of crying but I can’t here, confided the ex-pilot, three times vice-world champion. This title obtained by Kalle [Rovanperä] is so important! Already, it's impressive to win at 22 years old, he has broken almost all records. It's also very symbolic for Finland, 20 years since the last title for a Finn, it was a very long wait. All these years, there was myself, Mikko Hirvonen, we were so close several times... but we were never able to get this title, because of the two Sébastien [Loeb and Ogier] and a Thank you. I'm so grateful to Kalle for doing it, it's amazing. At that age...I don't have the words! He is great ! »

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