Rovanperä has already clinched the WRC title twice and has secured a total of 14 victories in his career. However, the top spot in his home rally still eludes him.
Rovanperä has started in Rally Finland three times with a top-class car, but he has only made it to the podium once – finishing second in the 2022 edition. In the autumn of 2021, he hit a sandbank, and last year his Toyota rolled over in the Myhinpää stage.
Could this be the year he achieves a full success?
“I’ve always had a good feeling and high expectations for the home rally. Every year, we aim for a good result.”
“I approach Rally Finland the same way I approach every rally – we prepare normally and aim to win, just like any other race,” Rovanperä tells RallyJournal.com.
Rovanperä is asked every year countless times whether only a win in his home rally will satisfy him and what it would mean to him. So, let’s rephrase the question: does it start to get frustrating to be asked about the win every time?
“It doesn’t really annoy me. In this job, you have to answer many different questions many times. You get used to it,” Rovanperä responds coolly.
Rovanperä, who is competing in fewer events in the World Rally Championship this year, has participated in five rallies so far, securing three impressive victories. The Finnish star does not yet reveal in detail what his schedule will look like for the rest of the season.
“There are some plans. It depends on how the races go with (Sebastien) Ogier. We will assess the situation as we have done so far,” Rovanperä says.
