Their race nearly ended before it began when an electrical fault struck their car. The Toyota Starlet broke down on the iconic Moll’s Gap stage, renowned for its breathtaking views.
Rovanperä could only shrug in frustration as he stepped out of the car in front of spectators. It seemed their rally might be over before reaching the end of the first special stage.
But that wasn’t the end of the story. Three helpful fans rushed over to investigate what was wrong with the Starlet. After checking under the bonnet, one of the fans hopped into the driver’s seat.
It wasn’t long before the Starlet’s engine roared back to life.
Watch the video of the moment below!
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Rovanperä and Halttunen quickly jumped back into the car, and after a few selfies, the pair were able to continue the rally.
The duo enjoyed the rest of the event with no major issues, clocking two fastest stage times and eventually finishing 15th in the modified car category.
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It’s believed the electrical fault was related to a relay. There’s no detailed information about what the fans did to the car – or whether it simply restarted after the power had been off for a while.
Next weekend, Rovanperä will be back in action at the Monza Rally Show in Italy. Toyota’s WRC team will also be represented by Sébastien Ogier, Sami Pajari, and team principal Jari-Matti Latvala.
