Rovanperä triumphs in Estonia and breaks the precocity record

He was perhaps not the fastest this weekend in Estonia but he managed his event masterfully. At 20 years, 9 months and 17 days, he became the youngest winner of a world championship round WRC. Ironically, he beats the record for precocity held for more than 13 years by… his boss: Jari-Matti Latvala. His father, Harri Rovanperä, won the rally of Sweden in 2001. Furthermore, he was the youngest driver to have led the championship after the Artic at the start of the season.

En tête dès jeudi soir, Kalle Rovanperä a été un temps sous la menace de Ott Tanäk (Hyundai). Pour son rallye national, Ott Tanäk a connu de la malchance dans la journée du vendredi : deux crevaisons et un problème au niveau de la suspension ont poussé le pilote Hyundai a abandonner dès vendredi après-midi. Il a pu reprendre la route du samedi mais sans enjeu au général. Au final, Ott Tanäk aura remporté 11 spéciales.

They've done it! Our Flying Finns @KalleRovanpera and @JonneHalttunen their claim first #WRC victory on #RallyEstonia! 

Kalle makes history as the WRC's youngest ever winner – beating the record of @JariMattiWRC! #ToyotaGAZOORacing #PushingTheLimitsForBetter #YarisWRC pic.twitter.com/vteo0u3S1R

— Toyota GAZOO Racing WRT (@TGR_WRC) July 18, 2021

In second position, we find Craig Breen (Hyundai). The Irishman took advantage of his position in the starting order during the day on Friday to open up a big gap with his pursuers. The podium is completed by Thierry Neuville (Hyundai). The Belgian driver could have aimed better but a penalty in the penultimate special sealed his third place.

For its part, Sebastien Ogier (Toyota) couldn’t do anything. By opening the road all day Friday, he lost a lot of time. His main goal was to be ahead of his championship rival Elfyn Evans, and it's done. He is in fact ahead of his Toyota teammate and increases his lead in the drivers' standings.

#PowerStage SS24 Tartu vald 2 (6.51 km)
 5'55.8
 2nd quickest so far#WRC  #RallyEstonia

 “I really fought but it's not really driving, it's just a fight. There are big ruts, it's like running a train. I didn't manage to stay very well in the line so I'm happy to finish" pic.twitter.com/5CP901HWCS

- Sébastien Ogier (@SebOgier) July 18, 2021

In the Power Stage, it was Ott Tanäk who claimed the 5 points with the best time. He was ahead of Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) who took 4 points, Sebastien Ogier (Toyota) who took 3 points, Elfyn Evans (Toyota) who took 2 points and Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) who took the last point.

In WRC2, we found Adrien fourmaux. After his good performances in the WRC, the Northerner returned to the second category. He suffered quite a bit throughout the weekend and finished in fourth place.
The next round will take place in Belgium (Ypres), the weekend of August 15.

Driver ranking after Estonia:

Find the analysis of the Estonian Rally by our expert in AUTOhebdo No. 2321 available this Monday in digital version and Wednesday on newsstands.