Latvia Rally – Kalle Rovanperä at ease ahead of the astonishing Martins Sesks

Ranking Rally of Latvia 2024, Stage 1:

• In summer, the days are long. In WRC, also ! T he first stage of the 2024 Latvia Rally, contested this Friday, July 19, did not give rise to a thrilling spectacle.
• Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota), already in the lead on Thursday evening after SS1, kept his lead and signed 5 fastest times. The Finn is evolving at a faster pace than all his rivals and seems well on his way to winning the 8th round of the season. “SS8 was the first time I could really feel like I was driving optimally,” Harri Rovanperä's son dared to say!
• The driver who saved this first day was Martins Sesks (M-Sport Ford). The 24-year-old rookie scored his first two special victories at the wheel of the Ford Puma Rally1 hybrid, on roads he knows by heart. Rejected 15 seconds behind Rovanperä, the Latvian hopeful's objective is not to seek victory but to continue the weekend without making a mistake.
• Absent in Poland following a road accident during reconnaissance, Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) is sailing in 3rd place and can claim to do better on Saturday by attacking.
• Is he still marked by his spectacular flight in Estonia last week? Ott Tänak (Hyundai) had no influence on the course of the race. While an opportunity to regain points Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) and Elfyn Evans (Toyota) offer themselves to him this weekend, the 2019 champion is only 6th.
• Adrien fourmaux (M-Sport Ford) continues to deliver no-frills services. The Northerner entered the top 5 during the last special on Friday and should fight with Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota, 4th) on Saturday.
• En WRC2, the suspense only lasted a few kilometers. Oliver Solberg (Skoda) continued to gain ground at the head of operations. The Swede also took advantage of his direct pursuer Josh McErlean (Skoda) going off the road during the afternoon. The current 2nd in the category, Mikko Heikkilä (Toyota) is half a minute behind.
• The second stage will begin on Saturday at 7:20 a.m. and can be followed in full in live text on AUTOhebdo.fr.
• ALSO READ > The program for the 2024 Rally Latvia